Wind turbine overspeed failure

[buickanddeere]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u14tBwO5QVQ&NR=1

At about 5 seconds there may have been a total brake failure either from fade or due to the generator/gearbox centrifugal explosion.15 seconds time, one of the blade tips at about the 3 o'clock position goes supersonic and shatters. The hub/nacelle now unbalanced lets another blade impact and crease the tower causing structural collapse.
The three techs probably made it down the tower and 1/2 a mile away in Olympic record time.
Early reports are of bearing failure in the hub which prevented feathering the blades. Insufficient maintenance and cost cutting is the likely cause.
Vestas is going to get blamed anyways, their price and demand will drop.

 

[MN Rick]

one of the more interesting videos I've seen. Simply amazing

 

[bradk]

That sucker was movin'!!

Good vid!!

 

[CJ3b_jeep]

There's a half a million bucks down the tube!

 

[Dan-IA]

When I was in high school Dad built his own wind generators. Then in some big storm in mid-winter they went overspeed and the blades flew apart. My theory is ice on the blades took 'em out of balance, they should have had no trouble handling the speed.

It's just about the sick feeling you get right after you wreck a car, get out, and inspect the damage. A lot like that anyway.

 

[Dan-IA]

When I was in high school Dad built his own wind generators. Then in some big storm in mid-winter they went overspeed and the blades flew apart. My theory is ice on the blades took 'em out of balance, they should have had no trouble handling the speed.

It's just about the sick feeling you get right after you wreck a car, get out, and inspect the damage. A lot like that anyway.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Looks like the support tower was made of composite material.

 

[buickanddeere]

Steel tower. Blades were composite.

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

I can not get to the video. How do you make the youturbe arress a link?. I type in the address bat but youtube rir not accept. I tried to highlight but could not get anywhere. HELP Please.

Kent

 

[buickanddeere]

Just sign onto Utube and search for wind turbine accident.

 

[mj]

(quoted from post at 08:49:26 03/07/08) I can not get to the video. How do you make the youturbe arress a link?. I type in the address bat but youtube rir not accept. I tried to highlight but could not get anywhere. HELP Please.

Kent

Here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u14tBwO5QVQ&NR=1

 

[mj]

I believe it was Admiral Byrd that placed a Hobbs 3-blade wind generator down at the south pole and left it there. Some 60 years later another expedition re-visited the site and there was the old Hobbs ...... still turning with the wind! :shock: I realize that these modern ones are much larger and made of the latest materials but ..... SIXTY YEARS!? As I recall, Mr. Hobbs had dozens of patents relating to windmills and his company was renowned for making the 'Cadillac' of wind machines at the time.