Yes. But it's OK - they still get paid!
6 megawatt battery backup system?
- Thread starter speedy130
- Start date
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Yes they do. If they don't they run the risk of the blades over speeding and shattering if the load on the generator is reduced. Some of the early designs went over speed when the brake pads wore out ( or burnt out ) and the blades could not be held stationary.
Modern blades can be feathered ( shape adjusted ) so the turning effect of the wind is almost zero so over speeding is not as big a hazard as it was ( is ) on older turbines.
Worked on an early windfarm nr to Burnley around 1992, it put out 10MW and its still operating today....Each Wind Turbine had a 415/11kv transformer and ring main unit used to step-up the voltage for distribution around to the purpose built grid transformer that (i think) stepped it up to 132kv to connect into the grid itslef. Scot Power now want to replace the original turbines with more powerful ones.......I really cant see that these sort of things can be erected in urban areas though :-0
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Yes
And they have to shut them down if they can't get rid of the power as well. That happens from time to time in Scotland as the grid connections north-south can't cope with peak capacity - and when that happens, the turbine operators insist on being paid extra for not producing power
According to documents I've read, it is strong winds that are of most concern to the network operator - not lack of wind.
Changes in output between little/no wind and good wind are relatively slow - happening over periods of several hours at least. It is also relatively easy to forecast.
However, when the wind is strong, turbine output is at maximum, and a small rise in wind speed can cause large numbers of turbines to shut down. This can create large changes in output over short timescales - either drop in supply as turbines shut down, or increase in supply as they start up again. Each individual turbine can go from full output to zero, or zero to full output, in a matter of seconds.
That's not been a problem with small amounts of wind capacity, but as the wind capacity increases, it imposes larger and faster changes of supply in the network which have to be balanced by other sources - most of it gas turbines which have larger and more frequent changes in load imposed on them (and more starts). This is bad for the gas turbines as every change in operating condition involves thermal cycling, increasing maintenance costs at the same time as reducing income from power generated. The end result is that the gas turbine operator must charge a higher pre-unit cost in order to remain viable - thus pushing up the overall cost.
This is an externalised cost that you'll rarely (if ever) hear pro-wind people talk about or even admit to existing.
And they have to shut them down if they can't get rid of the power as well. That happens from time to time in Scotland as the grid connections north-south can't cope with peak capacity - and when that happens, the turbine operators insist on being paid extra for not producing power
According to documents I've read, it is strong winds that are of most concern to the network operator - not lack of wind.
Changes in output between little/no wind and good wind are relatively slow - happening over periods of several hours at least. It is also relatively easy to forecast.
However, when the wind is strong, turbine output is at maximum, and a small rise in wind speed can cause large numbers of turbines to shut down. This can create large changes in output over short timescales - either drop in supply as turbines shut down, or increase in supply as they start up again. Each individual turbine can go from full output to zero, or zero to full output, in a matter of seconds.
That's not been a problem with small amounts of wind capacity, but as the wind capacity increases, it imposes larger and faster changes of supply in the network which have to be balanced by other sources - most of it gas turbines which have larger and more frequent changes in load imposed on them (and more starts). This is bad for the gas turbines as every change in operating condition involves thermal cycling, increasing maintenance costs at the same time as reducing income from power generated. The end result is that the gas turbine operator must charge a higher pre-unit cost in order to remain viable - thus pushing up the overall cost.
This is an externalised cost that you'll rarely (if ever) hear pro-wind people talk about or even admit to existing.
How many actually have controllable pitch blades ? Noting I've seen on TV (in those "this is how it's built" programs), and nothing I've heard anyone talking about, has mentioned them much if at all.
In engineering terms, it significantly increases the complexity of the hub, and maintenance costs.
That's because all proponents of generation via wind, sunlight etc refuse to accept the existence of reality.
Not all, some are realistic about it.
Solar PV has it's place. It's reliable and predictable as we have a fairly good idea when the sun is going to rise and set, at least in sunnier countries than our own. Up here we're a bit far north and it tends to be a bit cloudy.
Solar thermal more so since heat is easily stored (in small quantities at least).
Wind has it's place as well. In small amounts the effect it has on the grid is masked by other events (such as the infamous demand spikes at half time in popular sports of soaps). But we are past that stage with the amount of wind online.
But the non realistic and very emotional "save the planet" calls are in the majority and the policy makers in government please them in order to get the majority vote at the next election.
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