No Lee-DeKalb Windfarms » Turbine Hazards http://nowindfarms.com/blog FPL Lee-DeKalb Wind Farm Education Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:49:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 Wind turbine collapse under investigation http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-turbine-collapse-under-investigation/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-turbine-collapse-under-investigation/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:03:11 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=648 On February 22 a 600 kW Nordtank wind turbine at Halling in eastern Jutland experienced a so called runwaway event causing its blades to spin out of control. Minutes later the blades collided with the tower and caused the turbine to collapse. In an unrelated event at Vig in Odsherred a Vestas V47 600kW wind turbine lost a blade. In both cases, Vestas assume that human errors in service and maintenance caused the events, but points out that they are in process of finding the accurate causes.

Wind turbine collapse under investigation

On February 22 a 600 kW Nordtank wind turbine at Halling in eastern Jutland experienced a so called runwaway event causing its blades to spin out of control. Minutes later the blades collided with the tower and caused the turbine to collapse. In an unrelated event at Vig in Odsherred a Vestas V47 600kW wind turbine lost a blade.

In both cases, Vestas assume that human errors in service and maintenance caused the events, but points out that they are in process of finding the accurate causes.

“It is upsetting and very unfortunate. Now we will look at what’s left of the wind turbines and determine, what happened and what we can learn from this. A lot of things indicate that it is not the turbine design itself, but human errors in service and maintenance that is to blame. We realize that in terms of responsibility, the bottle points towards us,” says Peter Wenzel Kruse, head of communication at Vestas Wind System A/S.

The Danish Wind Industry states it is very regrettable with two accidents within such a short time, but at the same underlines, that accidents of this magnitude fortunately happen very rarely.

“We will now wait for the technical investigation that Vestas is carrying out before jumping to conclusions. It is very important to underline, that we have over 5000 wind turbines in operation in Denmark and that these accident happen very rarely,” says Bjarne Lundager Jensen, managing director in the Danish Wind Industry Association.

When it comes to service and maintenance of wind turbines, it is standard practice, that the manufacturer is responsible for service and maintenance during the first five year guarantee period. After that the owner of the turbine is responsible for maintenance and service. Under normal circumstances the turbine insurance company will demand of the owner that the turbine is regularly serviced according to a rigorous programme.

The Danish Wind Industry Association welcomes a dialog about the rules of maintenance and service. “If the investigation reveals it is necessary to go through the agreements of maintenance and service of the wind turbines, the Danish Wind Industry Association is of course interested in making sure this happens,” Bjarne Lundager Jensen says.

February 27, 2008 by Rune Birk Nielsen in Danish Wind Industry

Click to watch a video of the turbine as it explodes.

Web link: http://www.windpower.org/composite-1871.htm
]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-turbine-collapse-under-investigation/feed/ 0 Turbine Collapse Altona, NY http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-collapse-altona-ny/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-collapse-altona-ny/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:39:37 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=548 Many area residents are worried that a massive turbine could suddenly collapse.
“I’m just hoping that this was an isolated incident.”

Wind Turbine Collapse Altona, NY

ALTONA — Many residents were shocked that a massive wind turbine could come tumbling down and officials say it could take months to learn why one collapsed Friday.

Mike Fellion flew over the wreckage Saturday morning and was amazed to see that pieces of the structure appeared to have been thrown “about a quarter-mile away.”

videoVideo: Images Surface in Turbine Collapse, CH 5 News – WPTZ

videoVideo: Noble Confirms Turbine Collapses, CH 5 News – WPTZ

March 07, 2009

]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-collapse-altona-ny/feed/ 0 Wind Turbine Concerns http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-turbine-concerns/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-turbine-concerns/#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:26:15 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=422 See a an overview of just some of the Wind Turbine Concerns, like noise, shadow flicker, fires and collapses.


videoVideo: Version 2.2


videoVideo: Version 1.0

]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-turbine-concerns/feed/ 0 Wind Farm Controversy – WI http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-farm-controversy-wi/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-farm-controversy-wi/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:56:44 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=470 Wind Farm Controversy in WI – FOX 6 News


]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/wind-farm-controversy-wi/feed/ 0 Turbine Breaks – Ch 7 http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-breaks-ch-7/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-breaks-ch-7/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:29:59 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=440 Part of wind turbine breaks and lands in open field
Posted: Feb 21, 2009 03:34 PM
by Danielle Wagner
WAVERLY (KWWL) Part of a wind turbine under construction broke apart Saturday morning. The problem started Friday when construction crews were installing a second wind turbine for Waverly Light and Power.


]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-breaks-ch-7/feed/ 0 Turbine Breaks – Waverly http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-breaks-waverly/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-breaks-waverly/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:11:23 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=434 Part of wind turbine breaks and lands in open field

Posted: Feb 21, 2009 03:34 PM

by Danielle Wagner

waverly_bg1WAVERLY (KWWL) Part of a wind turbine under construction broke apart Saturday morning.

The problem started Friday when construction crews were installing a second wind turbine for Waverly Light and Power.

During the process, a construction error caused the rotor and blades to start moving in the wind prematurely – spinning uncontrollably and unable to stop until it broke.

Wesley Cark with the turbine manufacturer said the blades weren’t in the proper position during installation.

“Once the blades are feathered, then remove the lock pin, slowly rotating the blades. What they did was they removed the lock pin, the blades starting spinning, the tit bags come off and we evacuated the site,” said Clark.

Two families near the site were also evacuated as a safety precaution.

“Under normal circumstances when operating everyday, there are many, many fail safes that allow us to control the speed waverly_bg2of the blade. There a number of things we can at the site or remotely,” said Waverly Light and Power General Manager Diane Johnson.

In this instance, the fail safes weren’t in place yet, so there was no way to stop the blades.

“What we experienced with cannon II is highly unlikely. It’s very, very rare that it every happens,” said Johnson.

Everyone hoped the wind would stop long enough for crews to tie off the blades, but that didn’t happen. The rotor and blades were no match for the powerful wind.

While sitting in a vehicle near the site, KWWL reporter/anchor Danielle Wagner heard what sounded like a loud rush of wind and watched as part of the wind turbine flew off into an open field. The blades appeared to bend in the air as it blew off the tower, flying through the air.

The broken piece missed nearby equipment and empty vehicles barricading off the site, ending the suspense and danger.

After the stressful situation, Waverly Light and Power General Manager Diane Johnson told me she’s just thankful no one was hurt.

Reporter: Danielle Wagner

]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-breaks-waverly/feed/ 0 FPL Turbine Collapse – OK http://nowindfarms.com/blog/fpl-trubine-collapse-ok/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/fpl-trubine-collapse-ok/#comments Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:50:53 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=419 Listen to the story of an FPL (Florida Power and Light) wind turbine collapse in Weatherford, Okla.    This May 6, 2005, television news clip is from KOCO, Channel 5, Oklahoma City, whose parent company IBS retains the copyright. It is presented here for educational purposes.

]]> http://nowindfarms.com/blog/fpl-trubine-collapse-ok/feed/ 0 Turbine Explosion http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-explosion/ http://nowindfarms.com/blog/turbine-explosion/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:19:42 +0000 NoWindFarm http://nowindfarms.com/blog/?p=339 Explosion: Aarhus, Denmark, February 2008

Many wind turbines contain a braking mechanism. This stops the turbine from overspinning, the runaway effect of which is:


That’s a turbine in Hornslet near Aarhus, Denmark. Here’s the same spectacular explosion from a more distant angle. Note how long it takes for the blades to fall to earth, and also the white van at the base of the tower.


Thankfully no-one was hurt, as a zone of 400 metres around the tower was evacuated.

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