Wind Power Demonstration

[idahodad1]

you guys did a nice job of balancing that blade.

[twozigzages]

...I dont get how that was funny

[frostman3482]

one slip with that wooden blade and we would be watching your death on utube

[voldmand]

INZANE!

[denbecr]

now put it on a bicycle driving a wheel and go directly upwind with it. It will work if you get the ratio right.

[HairyPeo]

Neat -- you've discovered one of the "defensive moves" that some big wind turbines employ when the wind gets a little too wild (usually above 25 meters pr. second, or 56 mph).

When you were holding on to that rotor, did you notice a slight "nudge" every time the rotating wings were pointing straight up and down? These nudges adds to the stresses on the whole wind turbine, and that's why most modern wind turbines have the "nudge-avoiding" three-blade cofiguration.

[VideoJunkei]

Is that why most fans have an odd number of blades?!

[HairyPeo]

Yup! An even number causes the "nudges" I mentioned, which increases mechanical wear-and-tear. Big modern turbines are ment to last two dozen years, so everything helps...