View Full Version : Wind farms on descent to LGW
bbrown1664
25th Jun 2008, 17:37
Several times over the last few years I have seen a wind farm located off the coast somewhere when flying back from various places.
I always seem to see in when we are about 30 minutes out from Gatwick and I suspect it is located somewhere around the Kent coastline seeing as I later pick up locations/landmarks such as the M25 (on the right) Beachy Head/Eastbourne/Brighton etc (on the left).
Can anyone tell me where the wind farm is please?
BWEA - UKWED Operational wind farms (http://www.bwea.com/ukwed/map-operational.html)
Sounds like the wind farm just north of Whitstable/Herne Bay (ie the north Kent Coast). About 7 miles out to sea i believe.
bbrown1664
25th Jun 2008, 19:12
Thanks, I will take a ride over there one night. Jus the excuse I needed to go out on the bike. :ok:
west lakes
25th Jun 2008, 19:34
Don't take that site BOAC posted as gospel, there's at least three all older than 6 years in this area not shown and one in totally the wrong place!
Though it shouldn't bother commercial aviation too much as most pass over her above FL 200
aviate1138
28th Jun 2008, 08:11
Just remember that every wind farm you see in UK waters, has been and will be, subsidised by you - if you are a UK taxpayer. Eco Greenie smoke and mirrors. :rolleyes:
Here's some smoke.......
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k35/beejaviate/0102094952200.jpg
moleytt
30th Jun 2008, 22:41
So what's the story behind that pic?
Moley
VAFFPAX
1st Jul 2008, 13:46
Potentially generator failure? Looks like it started in the generator nacelle and spread.
S.
aviate1138
2nd Jul 2008, 05:25
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine HAWT for short.
HAWT disadvantages
HAWTs have difficulty operating in near ground, turbulent winds.
The tall towers and long blades up to 90 meters long are difficult to transport on the sea and on land. Transportation can now cost 20% of equipment costs.
Tall HAWTs are difficult to install, needing very tall and expensive cranes and skilled operators.
Downwind variants suffer from fatigue and structural failure caused by turbulence.
Cyclic stresses and vibration
Cyclic stresses fatigue the blade, axle and bearing material failures were a major cause of turbine failure for many years. Because wind velocity often increases at higher altitudes, the backward force and torque on a horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade peaks as it turns through the highest point in its circle. The tower hinders the airflow at the lowest point in the circle, which produces a local dip in force and torque. These effects produce a cyclic twist on the main bearings of a HAWT. The combined twist is worst in machines with an even number of blades, where one is straight up when another is straight down. To improve reliability, teetering hubs have been used which allow the main shaft to rock through a few degrees, so that the main bearings do not have to resist the torque peaks.
When the turbine turns to face the wind, the rotating blades act like a gyroscope. As it pivots, gyroscopic precession tries to twist the turbine into a forward or backward somersault. For each blade on a wind generator's turbine, precessive force is at a minimum when the blade is horizontal and at a maximum when the blade is vertical. This cyclic twisting can quickly fatigue and crack the blade roots, hub and axle of the turbines.
YouTube - A Vestas wind system fail and crashes. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqEccgR0q-o&feature=related)
YouTube - Lackawanna NY turbine gear failure (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liNIqYNHRXE&NR=1)