How much wind can a wind turbine take?

Question

What is the highest speed of wind a turbine can take?

Could it take 50mph? 80 mph? 100mph?

Answer 1

google it.

Answer 2

It really depends on the model of the turbine.  Around where I live, the turbines can survive about 30 miles an hour, but after that they are spinning so quickly it's dangerous, and automagically shut down.

Answer 3

Hey Philip,

To understand how high a wind speed a turbine can take you first need to know what kind of over speed protection the turbine is using.

Many residential size wind turbines use a method called furling.  Basically, when the wind reaches a certain speed the tail cranks out perpendicular to the nacelle which turns the blades out of the wind.  This method is simple but not completely effective. When the turbine is furled and the wind is turbulent it could shift and hit the blades full on which could cause the turbine to overspeed.

The much more effective way to limit turbine rpm is to use blade pitching.  When the turbine rotor reaches a certain rpm the blades pitch by centrifugal  force and stalls the blades.  With this design the wind can be blowing very hard and the rotor will always stay at a safe operating speed.

To answer your question, it really depends on the which turbine is being used and more importantly which overspeed protection design is being utilized.

The better question is how long can a wind turbine 50, 80, and 100mph winds.  Yes, most winds turbines can take 100+mph winds... But for how long.  Overspeed protection is critical.

Regards,

Jordan Wilder

Answer 4

Well, commercial scale turbines are built with a cut-out speed.  That is the speed at which the turbine is turned off to prevent damage to the turbine.  The average cut-out speed for many brands (see GE, Siemens, Vestas, Clipper) is usually around 25 m/s, which is around 56 mph.  Now the windspeed it would take to destroy a wind turbine is a completely different question.  I don't believe there's really any set windspeed.  I think its safe to say most turbines could withstand a windspeed of 100mph.  Most turbines are built in areas where hurricanes aren't a threat.  So for most turbines, it would probably take a tornado to destroy them.

Answer 5

they have brakes similar to cars that apply pressure to the rotor which regulates the speed, so they can handle just about any wind, the brakes help keep a constant rpm