26-07-2011, 06:25 PM
Hi,
Many thanks Jeffrey for the link to an interesting site. I note floating wind turbines are also used.
When these big wind turbines go wrong they do so with catastrophic results; caching fire and a whole bank of them losing their blades; I should not want to be near one of these on a bad day.
I wondered why the turbine was not mounted at ground level and it was interesting to read the following extract from the website;
"With a vertical axis, the generator and gearbox can be placed near the ground, using a direct drive from the rotor assembly to the ground-based gearbox, hence improving accessibility for maintenance".
I agree with Tony regarding the use of tidal power. A small stream can rotate a water turbine to drive an entire flour mill so what could tidal power drive given the vast quantity of sea water involved?
Kind regards, Col.
Many thanks Jeffrey for the link to an interesting site. I note floating wind turbines are also used.
When these big wind turbines go wrong they do so with catastrophic results; caching fire and a whole bank of them losing their blades; I should not want to be near one of these on a bad day.
I wondered why the turbine was not mounted at ground level and it was interesting to read the following extract from the website;
"With a vertical axis, the generator and gearbox can be placed near the ground, using a direct drive from the rotor assembly to the ground-based gearbox, hence improving accessibility for maintenance".
I agree with Tony regarding the use of tidal power. A small stream can rotate a water turbine to drive an entire flour mill so what could tidal power drive given the vast quantity of sea water involved?
Kind regards, Col.
