Comments on: Building a Wind Turbine http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:32:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: tool1661 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-119 tool1661 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:34:54 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-119 I see the giant wind turbine motors and blades go throw appleton,wisconsin every wed. A whole train full of them. One blade take up a train car and a half. It's pretty amazing how big these things are. I don't know why but they are awe inspiring just to watch something that big move. I see the giant wind turbine motors and blades go throw appleton,wisconsin every wed. A whole train full of them. One blade take up a train car and a half. It’s pretty amazing how big these things are. I don’t know why but they are awe inspiring just to watch something that big move.

]]> By: warchild81 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-118 warchild81 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:01:01 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-118 Ahah, T Boone Pickens Ahah, T Boone Pickens

]]> By: marginallymental http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-117 marginallymental Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:35:38 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-117 eltechno, this was more than an "elegant technology" video, it was downright majestic! The shots (and editing) may have lied about the time it took to put the turbine up, but the editing--and ending the "day" in that golden prairie light--were beautiful. The primo music/iconic images of men at work didn't hurt, either! eltechno, this was more than an “elegant technology” video, it was downright majestic! The shots (and editing) may have lied about the time it took to put the turbine up, but the editing–and ending the “day” in that golden prairie light–were beautiful. The primo music/iconic images of men at work didn’t hurt, either!

]]> By: eltechno http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-116 eltechno Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:35:33 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-116 Thank you for those kind words. On that last day, real work didn't get started until around noon because of all the inspection and repair due to a giant hailstorm. But it was Friday and folks wanted to make up for the delay. So they labored until after dark. MY favorite clip comes at the end where a very large and powerful man is carrying the "sock" used to keep the lower turbine blade from dragging on the ground. He is still moving but obviously VERY tired. It was a LONG day. Thank you for those kind words. On that last day, real work didn’t get started until around noon because of all the inspection and repair due to a giant hailstorm. But it was Friday and folks wanted to make up for the delay. So they labored until after dark. MY favorite clip comes at the end where a very large and powerful man is carrying the “sock” used to keep the lower turbine blade from dragging on the ground. He is still moving but obviously VERY tired. It was a LONG day.

]]> By: circusboy90210 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-115 circusboy90210 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:25:42 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-115 what's better one large one or thousands of smaller ones??? what’s better one large one or thousands of smaller ones???

]]> By: eltechno http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-114 eltechno Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:09:59 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-114 The size of a good wind turbine is not arbitrary. The wind doesn't get clean and reliable until about 100' (30 meters) into the air. The size of the blades is determined by how much energy it requires to run the generator. Blades are about 40 meters long (131 ') so the mast must be about 70 meters (230') high. So this is not about big vs little. There is a optimum size--which is why most good wind turbines are about the same physical size (between 2 and 5 megawatts.) The size of a good wind turbine is not arbitrary. The wind doesn’t get clean and reliable until about 100′ (30 meters) into the air. The size of the blades is determined by how much energy it requires to run the generator. Blades are about 40 meters long (131 ‘) so the mast must be about 70 meters (230′) high. So this is not about big vs little. There is a optimum size–which is why most good wind turbines are about the same physical size (between 2 and 5 megawatts.)

]]> By: circusboy90210 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-113 circusboy90210 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:26:48 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-113 well the cost of them is. what is the ecnomically feasible size (which one will kill less of the avian species) which cost less to erect to maintain etc. so yess there is a better size. you have to take all the variables into effect. keeping in mind that you also whant people to be able to work on them inherintly putting more people in share of the power structure, & creating need for schools & workers to spread the economic power. well the cost of them is. what is the ecnomically feasible size (which one will kill less of the avian species) which cost less to erect to maintain etc. so yess there is a better size. you have to take all the variables into effect. keeping in mind that you also whant people to be able to work on them inherintly putting more people in share of the power structure, & creating need for schools & workers to spread the economic power.

]]> By: eltechno http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-112 eltechno Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:09:09 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-112 Well, the primary goal is to capture the energy of the wind. Those other goals may be wonderful, but if the wind turbines such thinking produces don't work very well, all those other goals fail too. As for these turbines killing birds--that lie has been discredited LONG ago. (In fact, the big turbines are MUCH less dangerous to birds because they turn so slowly.) I am sorry you still believe it. If you think that little wind turbines are better--please build one that actually works. Well, the primary goal is to capture the energy of the wind. Those other goals may be wonderful, but if the wind turbines such thinking produces don’t work very well, all those other goals fail too.

As for these turbines killing birds–that lie has been discredited LONG ago. (In fact, the big turbines are MUCH less dangerous to birds because they turn so slowly.) I am sorry you still believe it.

If you think that little wind turbines are better–please build one that actually works.

]]> By: marginallymental http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-111 marginallymental Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:41:51 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-111 I agree-he's exhausted. Two questions: are those blades actually flexing a little, or is that an optical illusion? And how much does one of these behemoths COST?? I suppose that's relative to local energy prices, but I'm curious. I agree-he’s exhausted. Two questions: are those blades actually flexing a little, or is that an optical illusion? And how much does one of these behemoths COST?? I suppose that’s relative to local energy prices, but I’m curious.

]]> By: eltechno http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine/comment-page-1#comment-110 eltechno Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:55:48 +0000 http://make-energy.net/howto/building-a-wind-turbine#comment-110 The blade do flex a bit. That is why the nacelle has a nose-up attitude. But mostly it is optics fooling us. This Vestas v82 cost about $2 million when it was erected. This includes the parts of the construction I captured on video plus the foundation (a BIG project) and the hook-up to the grid. To give you an idea of why everyone now wants to build wind turbines, this Vestas saved St. Olaf College over $300,000 the first year. The blade do flex a bit. That is why the nacelle has a nose-up attitude. But mostly it is optics fooling us.

This Vestas v82 cost about $2 million when it was erected. This includes the parts of the construction I captured on video plus the foundation (a BIG project) and the hook-up to the grid. To give you an idea of why everyone now wants to build wind turbines, this Vestas saved St. Olaf College over $300,000 the first year.

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