Do you need to choose a wind turbine brake for you or a client?

Wind turbines are often used as a major part of a home or businesses electric power production. This means that a wind turbine brake and other parts must be functioning properly.

But as you consider your options, how can you pick the best wind turbine brakes?

Let’s take a closer look at how you can find the brakes that are best for your wind turbine system.

A Wind Turbine Brake is Different

Wind turbines often rise hundreds of feet into the sky. This means that these brakes must operate unmanned and need to function properly for longer periods of time.

After all, who wants to go up high in the sky to fix these more than they need to?

Another important difference between these brakes and those on other machines’ brakes is that a wind turbine brake may be exposed to extreme conditions. These include being in places with very hot and cold temperatures.

When you choose a wind turbine brake you have to keep these things in mind.

The Size of Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are tall because the higher up it is, the windier the conditions are.

With more wind comes more electricity, or the potential to create more of it.

In fact, the average height of industrial wind turbines is around 328 feet! When you are considering a wind turbine brake, consider the size of your turbine.

If you have a shorter turbine for home use, you will need a smaller brake for it than if you own a large industrial wind turbine.

Emergency Stops

There is no way around it. There will be times when you have to make an emergency stop of your wind turbine. For example, it may be necessary during severe inclement weather.

When you have to make an emergency stop of your wind turbine, it’s crucial that your rotor braking system has a friction liner. This is because of the short timeframe in which you have to stop your wind turbine brake.

When you attempt to stop anything quickly — your car, your machinery, your wind turbine, etc. — this creates friction. And with friction comes heat.

A sufficient size friction liner helps the heat created by that friction dissipate. This will help protect your wind turbine from damage.

Choosing a Wind Turbine Brake

Wind turbines are a great source of alternative energy for a home or business but choosing the right wind turbine brake is important.

This is because of the large size of wind turbines and the height at which these machines operate. You want to choose a reliable wind turbine brake that will minimize maintenance. You also want to consider the rarer situations when an emergency stop is required.

Because of the friction created by the need to stop wind turbines quickly, a rotor system’s liner should be large enough to prevent it from overheating and causing further damage.

Picking a wind turbine brake is an important decision for you and your business. Taking the time to learn about these will help you save time (and money) in the future.

This video is entitled “Energy 101: Wind Turbines – 2014 Update” and is really informative. It comes to us via the U. S. Department of Energy.

The video starts out by explaining how creaky, old windmills on farms (used to mill grain or pump water or both) were the predecessors for new, modern wind turbines that generate electricity.

The same wind that used to pump water for cattle is now turning giant wind turbines to power cities and homes.

Wind Power Creates Electricity

The principle of today’s enormous wind turbines remains the same – that is to capture wind’s energy which is free and convert it to electricity. This electrical energy is used to power cities and homes.

A video animation shows how the wind turbine works in simple terms.

The blades of the wind turbine work similar to those of an airplane wing. Air waves pass along either side of the blade. It is the blade’s shape that causes the air pressure to be uneven. That pressure is higher on one side of the blade while lower on the other. This uneven pressure causes the blade to spin around the center of the turbine.

The wind turbine’s blades attach to a shaft which connects to a series of gears which increase the rotation. At a high enough speed this starts to produce energy.

A weather vane sits on the top of the wind turbine. The weather vane is connected to a computer which turns the turbine into the wind so it can capture the maximum amount of energy.

Why wind turbines are so tall.

That’s simple. The higher up the windier it gets. And more wind naturally means more electricity.

Larger turbines also can capture wind energy more efficiently. The long blades can sweep a circle in the sky.

Even small wind farms are capable of generating enough electricity to power thousands of homes. Larger farms provide much more clean energy for our businesses and homes.

Another source of wind power lies in our oceans and the Great Lakes. The U.S. Energy Department supports innovative offshore wind projects. This will help build offshore wind turbines in U.S. waters.

Over 50% of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coastline. Thus capturing wind power off of America’s shores can provide energy to countless homes and businesses.

Learn more about Wind Power at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Kor-Pak Corp. helps the renewable energy industry by providing wind turbine brakes, pads and accessories. Learn more by visiting on Wind Power page.

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