Sunday, January 6, 2013

Clanking noise problem followed by no rotation of blades



 We’ve had the weirdest problem lately. The wind turbine starts making a clanking noise and then when wind dies off it won’t start again without taking the tower down.  Once the tower is down, everything seems good with breaks off blades turn freely.  Once back up and running a while, clanking/scrapping noise comes back.   Strange thing this is that you would think clanking would be worse at high speed rotation, but it seems to be less frequent or loud at high speeds. 

For a few days were were getting a blank white screen on the HMI too, but power cycling it seemed to fix it for while. 

Anyone have any ideas what it could be causing this noise?  Scott said if it was the bearings the noise would track with the speed of rotation, but it does not.  Each time we take it down, it looks okay in side. After being down it works again for a while.

Right now the HMI shows all is well, it is tracking wind, breaks are off, but the blades will not turn at all no matter what the wind speed is.

We’ll take it down again when we get a chance and we’ll video tape the clanking noise.

December  results were terrible due to this issue.

Dec      28 KWH
Nov     138 KWH
Oct      200 KWH

1 comment:

  1. Sounds like a loose magnet rubbing on the stator.
    More likely, its a control issue, controller is cycling brake on/off or dynamically braking the alternator.

    Check control circuits when you hear the noise, brake should have around 220VAC (I think, haven't touched a Redriven since 2010)to keep contactor open.

    Hopefully you don't have a mechanical issue as Redriven is gone=No parts/service.

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