If wind turbines go too fast, can they shift to the higher gear?

Question

instead of having automatic brakes in turbines, would it be possible to have automatic gears?

Answer 1

most likely as technology gets more advanced...

the automatic brakes are necessary though to make sure the turbine works properly  

Answer 2

If wind turbine are going to fast it is because it is putting too much stress on the blades.

however there are vertical turbines that can handle extreme high winds as well as operate in lower winds than  the standard horizonal types.

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:V...

Answer 3

its not the speed that makes them stop, it the torque.  If it switched gears, the blades and gears would be subjected to more stress and they would break.

Instead, get a big windmill.

Answer 4

Not Really Viable.. Adds much to cost and size of machinery

Answer 5

Adding gears to wind turbines would just increase their complexity and hence the liklihood of mechanical failure, and doesn't address the reason for the brakes.

The brakes are a safety intended to protect against a variety of failures both mechanical and electrical.  The point is to stop the blades from spinning if the turbine becomes 'unloaded' for any reason.  A gear box would slow the blades, but would actually make the generator spin faster which could be exactly the wrong thing to do.