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Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbine blades
By DanB, Section Wind Posted on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 02:39:28 PM MST
Damned Spotted owls

Damned spotted owl flew into my 20' wind turbine yesterday...

Fortunately only 1 blade was damaged. - about 10 pounds of wood snapped off the trailing edge. It still ran OK but it was way out of balance.

We found most of the missing bits about 150' away in the forest.

Duct tape is really good strong stuff - we just decided to tape it back on there.

If you ever use duct tape to fix your wind turbine blades.... don't skimp. We used a whole roll.

You need to tape it up at several points along the blade and be sure to have a few layers on there. Over time UV radiation will damage the duct tape so you need to use lots!!! The stuff also weighs a bit so you need to apply it in just the right spots to make sure things stay in balance.

All fixed up and ready to fly again!

Almost as good as new!!

It whistles a bit now but even in fairly light winds we're seeing over 2KW!

Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbine blades | 28 comments (28 topical)

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by finnsawyer on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 08:57:06 AM MST

Aren't the spotted owls protected or endangered? If so, if it becomes a contest between the owls or the WT, then the WT must go. It would probably be best to never mention an endangered species here as "Big Brother" is watching. You must be mistaken.
GeoM

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by DanB on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 09:13:18 AM MST

OK.. I can tell from your comment and some comments on the IRC that perhaps this story is a bit over the top...

What really happened:
Spotted owls are endangered and they don't live anywhere near here.
I've never ever seen a bird hit a wind turbine.
Yesterday we had high winds - gusting to at least 70mph. I did see record output from the machine (8064 Watts) - but at one point a bit of one blade came off and it was shaking so I shut it down. I would never seriously fix a wind turbine blade with duct tape... we need a new blade for this machine. I may take all the blades off and narrow them at the roots to try/prevent this sort of failure in the future. This was a failure of wood unfortunately.

I put this whole story up just to be a bit silly!

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by richhagen on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 01:22:11 PM MST

When I read the post, I figured you were just being silly, then I figured you'd also start a bit of a firestorm. Some people take things a bit too seriously. To those folks, I would add that I would bet that environmental impact of most other fuel sources would be a much greater threat to spotted owls and other birds than wind turbines. At any rate good luck with the fixes, I would guess that Scott will make one new blade for now, and that you guys will make adjustments to that set as you won't want that turbine down for long. Rich
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'
[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#15)
by Chagrin on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 08:12:38 PM MST

Spotted Owls aren't endangered. Here in Iowa there's even a hunting season for them.

They're not bad ... taste kinda like bald eagle.

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#17)
by TomW on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 08:42:50 PM MST

Chag;

Must be a different part of the state. Doesn't show up on my seasons and bag limits card? We seldom even eat eagles anymore. However, you could butcher a deer a week for a couple years off this farm and never catch up with them.

Cheers.

TomW

The Truth is the Truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#18)
by finnsawyer on Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 08:17:23 AM MST

Yeah, I found that it doesn't pay to try to be silly or a bit humorous on this site. My comment was meant to be "tongue in cheek". Those are beautiful birds, though. Good luck on the repairs.
GeoM
[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - Surely not a bird. (3.00 / 0) (#19)
by twombo on Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 10:57:02 AM MST

Me neither... But add a few drywall screws and Gorilla glue and now we are talking! HEH!

I actually like the subtle, but slightly gamey, taste of spotted owl. Very good with a nice Gewurztraminer. Also very popular among out of work loggers in Humboldt county!

Mike

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by DanG on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 09:22:48 AM MST

Thanks, I needed that, whadda hoot..

Maybe Time to think of a root stiffener, an extension trailing off of the clamp plate provided for when water-jet cut?? Dowling, banding or clamping - kinda exhausts the ideas from here...

Good luck with the repair!

Re: Wind turbine failure (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by harrie on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 10:57:50 AM MST

Ha, That was quite a story!!! Dan, I put a rap of stainless 3" wide tape about around each blade at about 16" up from the tip thinking it might help hold things together if one does have a weak glue joint or if something flys into it. I think it kind of looks good to flashing in the sun as it turns.

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by Tritium on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 11:06:56 AM MST

My first thought was the blade segment hit Dan in the head from his initial comments and knowing the range of the spotted owl is not Colorado. The duct tape convinced me of the fact. Glad to know his sense of humor is intact although I am sure someone is now planning mill construction based on duct tape:-)

Thurmond

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by tecker on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 11:41:18 AM MST

Broke right at the right angle , probably flexes there .Those are really Monster blades I 'm sure you'll zero in on a fix .

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by dlenox on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 01:44:03 PM MST

Dan,

I recently made my 17' which was fashioned around the one that you guys built. The weight of each laminated sassafras blade came to 19lbs each!

In order to make the blades even stronger I put a layer of 6oz fiberglass cloth around the entire blade. In addition at the leading edges I used a material called Dynel under the glass cloth as it is extremely wear resistant.

By wrapping the blades with glass and squeeging off any excess I only added 1lb to each blade. And made them super strong as a result, I would highly recommend this to any large blade.

We just got my 70' lattice tower up along with the yaw bearing yesterday but due to the wind and rain did not get the blades and tail on it yet...

Here are a couple of photos:

Hopefully the rest will be flying soon!
Dan Lenox

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by Boondocker on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 06:41:29 PM MST

Nice project. Keep on posting your progress.

[ Parent ]

Re: Twisted (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by Kevin L on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 01:24:49 PM MST

My guess is that now matter the intent of the original post, some extremist will get a hold of this post, and twist it as a propaganda tool. It's best not to even joke about these issues. You get an artisan like the one that made that bit up on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Vibrating piece of Junk. Then a lot of people get stirred up over something that didn't and couldn't happen, and the next thing you know it's on 60 minutes and then into the Hall of Congress as just another example of "wind is bad."

Wind turbine failure (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by richhagen on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 01:34:57 PM MST

That is a good sized hunk of wood flying 150' away. Away was good. Since you say the wood failed, I wonder if you could have just glued it back for now, and used the duct tape as a sort of clamp until it dried and maybe to balance a bit for the missing bits. Seems odd to me that it split the long way like that. Usually I seem to see them snapped. I know you had big winds out there, but I'm wondering if there was a flaw or split in that particular board that contributed to the failure. Rich
'A Joule saved is a Joule made'

Re: Wind turbine failure (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by tecker on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 02:14:18 PM MST

I feel certain he did glue it the tape held it in place and I guess it was a little chilly and they wanted to get inside .( just a guess ).

[ Parent ]

how to fix wind turbine blades (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by toothy on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 05:26:44 PM MST

Being an Alaskan I was darn proud of you until you told the truth!!! Great story, but it could have used more duct tape.

wade

Re: how to fix wind turbine blades (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by hiker on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 06:51:38 PM MST

hey toothy.. hows your mill coming along?
WILD IN ALASKA
[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#16)
by coldspot on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 08:17:09 PM MST

LOL,,..!!!
Thanks Dan !!!
Had me going, right up to the "Duct Tape" part!
I really needed a bit of laughter today!
Thanks
:)

Re: Wind turbine failure - (3.00 / 0) (#20)
by jmk on Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 05:25:09 PM MST

You remind me of Red Green. I had leading edge tape on mine. When I ran it during a rain storm it started to peal the tap at the tips. It made a load noise as it ran. I had to lower it to get it the rest of the way off. I could see that the tap had shrunk from its original size and lost it's adhesion. I was surprised to see that it took very little effort to pull it the rest of the way off. I couldn't believe it didn't blow off. Don't feel bad. The Air Force shoots chickens out of a canon to test bird stricks on thier jets.
looks like there is no guy wires on that tower. Is that tower going to handle the loads of the turbine? Does it sway at the top? Your project looks good. I would enjoy seeing more pictures of it and reading about it in a diary.

jmk

Re: Wind turbine failure - (3.00 / 0) (#22)
by Old F on Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 07:35:42 PM MST

And all way remember If the women don't find you hansom at least let them find you handy : )
Old F

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#21)
by ghurd on Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 05:57:48 PM MST

I think it'll work.
Duct tape is fine.
A bit of hot glue never hurts, just to be safe.

Spotted Owl is OK, but I never cared for the BBs.
Mom almost never makes it any more, except on the major holidays.
The "ting - ting - ting" sound of spit out #6 shot, bouncing around on "The Good China", always brings back warm memories.

Paisley-Throated Shrouded-Winged Woodley-Walker Owls are still my favorite because they aren't so greasy.
And since they are 'officially extinct', there is no fine for cooking them, and a .22 doesn't leave BBs.

Tastes like chicken.
Ghurd.info

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#23)
by Capt Slog on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:10:42 AM MST

Ahh, duct tape, wonderful stuff.

Known as "Force Tape" in some circles........

It has a Light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together. :-)

.
"Slowly changing the world, one watt at a time!"
[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#24)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 02:45:08 PM MST

Darth: The dark side is strong.
Luke: But the light side is STICKY!
Darth: No, that's duct tape.

[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#25)
by Eirbyte on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 02:17:02 PM MST

Don't ya mean "duck tape"?

Bureaucracy was the counterpart of cancer, it grew bigger and destroyed everything except itself
Spike Milligan

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#26)
by jmk on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 05:56:00 PM MST

It's duct tape because it was designed to tape heat ducts. It just sounds like everyone is saying duck tape. Now we should call it owl tape.
jmk
[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#27)
by lohearth on Thu Oct 25, 2007 at 11:02:14 AM MST

Also known as "Sudbury Solder"
Strange..it wasn't suppose to do that.
[ Parent ]

Re: Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbin (3.00 / 0) (#28)
by wooferhound on Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 04:23:40 PM MST

Well it was named Duck Tape because it was designed to be waterproof tape for the military.
http://www.ducttapeguys.com/duckvsduct.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape

W o o f -={(

[ Parent ]

Wind turbine failure - how to fix wind turbine blades | 28 comments (28 topical)

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