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Article: Turbines catch their second wind. (includes article on wind-turbine blade research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
- Article from:
- Mechanical Engineering-CIME
- Article date:
- November 1, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 American Society of Mechanical Engineers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Engineers have learned that a windmill is exposed to more extreme conditions than was first thought. This knowledge is helping designers create advanced wind turbines that may finally fulfill wind power's promise as a clean, abundant, and low-cost energy source for the future.
By the end of the 1980s, the prospects for large-scale wind power generation seemed dim. Only about one-third of the wind turbines installed in California--the hub of wind farm activity--during the decade proved successful. Poor load prediction, inadequate detailed design, and low quality control had led to failed turbine blades and overloaded gear boxes, brakes, and yaw drives. Meanwhile, ...