Operational Testing Nears Completion
The prototype VP100 vertical axis wind turbine located at the Clines Corners Retail Center in central New Mexico is nearing the completion of operational testing. Normal operational modes have been thoroughly tested. Presently the lack of strong winds has prevented testing of the high wind shutdown procedure. Summer is the period of the least wind at this site.
After a very rough winter that prevented site access, a new generator was installed in April. (Scroll down to see the pictures of the generator removal and installation.) The new generator has an improved starting system and better mounting to the transmission. The generator change out took only four hours and demonstrated one big advantage of the VP100 over typical horizontal axis turbines. Our generator was changed without the use of a crane. Only hand tools and light jacks working at ground level were needed despite the generator weighing over 800 pounds. Cranes add thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of servicing wind turbines.
After a very rough winter that prevented site access, a new generator was installed in April. (Scroll down to see the pictures of the generator removal and installation.) The new generator has an improved starting system and better mounting to the transmission. The generator change out took only four hours and demonstrated one big advantage of the VP100 over typical horizontal axis turbines. Our generator was changed without the use of a crane. Only hand tools and light jacks working at ground level were needed despite the generator weighing over 800 pounds. Cranes add thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of servicing wind turbines.
Labels: wind energy, wind turbine
