What Materials Make Up Wind Turbines?
Chances are some of the electricity you use at home comes from a sustainable energy initiative. Hydro, solar, and wind power all harness elemental forces for energy consumption. The machines that transmute this energy are no simple devices. “What materials make up wind turbines,” you ask? Well, look no further.
The Structural Parts
Wind turbines are massive spectacles to behold. Towering hundreds of feet in the air, many models are as tall as skyscrapers. Considering their immense size, engineers must design wind turbines with stable parts that ensure structural integrity, especially amidst strong winds.
Turbines typically consist of towers, blades, and hubs. Each of these components serves a distinct purpose in maintaining the structure of the device in billowing winds. That’s why machinists craft turbines out of steel. With its flexibility and high tensile strength, steel offers what many other metals—like iron—cannot. Many wind turbines stand in wind farms across the Midwest, where wind shears tear across the countryside. The steel strength keeps these devices from falling underneath the immense pressure of air against metal.
The Electrical Parts
Wind turbines exist for energy transformation. Changing the energy of gusting winds into usable electrical current requires unique parts. Since electricity is the end goal of wind turbines, engineers must use electrical insulation in their devices. Electrical insulation parts, such as our GPO3 at Red Seal Electric Company, ensure green energy from wind turbines stays within its limits. Loose electricity in a wind turbine can harm turbine technicians as they repair and monitor the machines. Electrical insulation protects the environment as well. Many turbines exist in well-populated areas or places with dense forestry that need protection from electrical hazards.
The electrical parts inside a wind turbine are myriad since the turbine converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. However, some of the more essential features include switchgear and busbar. Switchgear is a set of circuit breakers that enables electricians to manually and digitally control electricity flow. This is incredibly helpful when a turbine needs servicing and it must power off. A busbar is a strip of metal that distributes power locally and acts as a waystation for electrical currents.
Knowing what materials make up wind turbines equips engineers and technicians with the information they need to make safe, sustainable energy sources. With a combination of domestically and internationally sourced parts, wind turbines will continue to produce green energy for decades to come.