Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: turnipsock on 03/12/2008 22:21:53

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: turnipsock on 03/12/2008 22:21:53

I'm guessing there is some gizmo that picks up the wind direction and turns the windmills to face the wind but I can't see anything on top of them.

Does anybody know how it's done?

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 04/12/2008 07:40:31

Wouldn't they just naturally swivel that way?

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: Don_1 on 04/12/2008 07:43:53

I would think that a close by wind direction vain governs which way the windmills face. Just a guess.

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: elmejor on 04/12/2008 14:10:23

Quote from: Madidus_Scientia on 04/12/2008 07:40:31

Wouldn't they just naturally swivel that way?

even i would like to believe that they swivel naturally coz of air pressure

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: Don_1 on 04/12/2008 14:29:09

Quote from: elmejor on 04/12/2008 14:10:23

Quote from: Madidus_Scientia on 04/12/2008 07:40:31

Wouldn't they just naturally swivel that way?

even i would like to believe that they swivel naturally coz of air pressure

This might be possible in strong winds, but lighter winds would not be able to turn such a heavy unit. I should think they would be turned by electric motors.

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: blakestyger on 04/12/2008 15:06:07

Each up-wind turbine unit has a wind vane mounted outside at the back. This measures wind direction and sends a signal to the yaw drive (top of the upright, below the nacelle) to orientate the turbine to head-wind. I've never seen a down-wind type (doesn't need a mechanism) and Norfolk's littered with turbines.

There's a simplified drawing and explanation at:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_how.html

Title: How do the windmills in windfarms all point in the same direction?
Post by: erickejah on 04/12/2008 23:51:06

so the data gathered from the anemometer is processed and transformed to a signal that feeds the Yaw drive -the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes-.

 [:o] very interesting