Slip Ring Solutions

There are a number of reasons for transferring power and signals across the rotating hub of a wind turbine. The most common purpose is for power and control of the blade pitch mechanism.

• Hydraulic Systems: Slip ring and fluid rotary union combinations offer multiple signals, electric and hydraulic power transmission for the hydraulic blade pitch actuation.
• Electric Systems: Slip rings with higher power circuits transmit signals and electric power for the electric blade pitch actuation. …
  

The new year opens up with the annual Quadrantid Meteor Shower, one of the most impressive — but least observed — meteor showers of the year.

The shower is expected to peak sometime between 3 p.m. EST on Jan. 3 and 1 a.m. EST on Jan. 4. Observers in North America should look for shooting stars emanating from low on the northwestern horizon as soon as it gets …

Minnesota Power has awarded another order to Siemens Energy, for 35 x 3-megawatt direct drive wind turbines, for its Bison 2 wind energy center near Center, North Dakota.

The contract for the 105 MW wind power plant includes erection and commissioning of the 35 wind turbines, plus a three-year service and maintenance agreement. Deliveries of the wind turbines will commence in August 2012 and the plant is scheduled to be come online by late 2012.

This …

Using Wind Turbines on Your Electric Vehicle

I’ve been asked many times over the years “why I don’t install a wind turbine on the front of my electric car to make it drive further.”

I’ve also had well-meaning advice on how I should install a generator attached to one of my car’s …

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Wind Turbine size

Annual output on a good site

Annual output on an

excellent site

Proven P7 3.2 kW

4,000kW/hrs

7,000kW/hrs

Proven P11

6kW

8,000kW/hrs

20,000kW/hrs

P35-2 12.5kW

25,000kW/hrs

45,000kW/hrs

How much will it cost?

Each installation must be priced separately as no two sites are the …

Glossary of Wind Energy Terminology

Double Fed Induction Generator (DF) — sometimes referred to as DFIG — has been widely used technology in wind turbines for ten years in thousands of commissioned wind turbines. It is based on an induction generator with a multiphase wound rotor and a multiphase slip ring assembly with brushes for access to the rotor. Recently, designs without the brushes have been introduced.

Full Conversion (FC) drive train — the wind turbine gearbox is protected because the generator is not …

Updated on February 6, 2009 with a correction. The original misstated the measurement for the company’s technical specifications. It should be 14 meter per second wind, which is 31 miles per hour.

A home wind turbine already installed at 250 sites in Scotland is now being sold across the pond.

Cascade Engineering said Monday the Swift wind turbine, for homes and other buildings, is available in the U.S. and Canada.

The Swift tries to set itself apart from existing small wind turbines with a design that reduces …