So you think YOUR prop is expensive!!!!

[Keith Lane]

So you think YOUR prop is expensive!!!!

I just got back from a train ride fron New Castle to Philadelphia, PA on which we had instrumented the nacelle of a LARGE (1 megawatt capacity) windmill generator to determine shock and vibration. (Note to Joe Williams: We went right thru Royersford, and blew the horn, but didn't see you wave. )
Once we got to Fairless Hills, PA, near Philly, we dropped off our car at the owner's facility (GAMSEA of Spain), Out back in the yard were the blades for the nacelle. Each one if 40 meters long. The amazing thing is how thin the materials in the blades are at the root, and how small the bolts that attach the blade to the hub are.
In the photo of the nacelle note the hub is NOT attached.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

So you think YOUR prop is expensive!!!!

In the photo of the nacelle note the hub is NOT attached.

They are hollow in the middle?! I didn't know that. Makes sense... (lighter).

There's a business between Fort Worth and Gainesville in Texas, on the west side of I-35, that makes these... their yard is full of them. I wonder what a blade goes for.

 

[Nav8tor]

It looks like the blades are made from composites. I'm guessing that the lengthwise marks on the inside surface were made by removing the mold from the inside.

Keith, Is the windmill going to be installed somewhere in the Philly area?

 

[Keith Lane]

It looks like the blades are made from composites. I'm guessing that the lengthwise marks on the inside surface were made by removing the mold from the inside.

Keith, Is the windmill going to be installed somewhere in the Philly area?

The material looks like fiberglass to me. I don't know where this one is going. It was a tradeshow unit for the wind energy show in Pittsburgh. See the attached of the base of the blade with my co-worker for size perspective.

 

[poadeleted3]

So you think YOUR prop is expensive!!!!

I just got back from a train ride fron New Castle to Philadelphia, PA on which we had instrumented the nacelle of a LARGE (1 megawatt capacity) windmill generator to determine shock and vibration. (Note to Joe Williams: We went right thru Royersford, and blew the horn, but didn't see you wave. )
snip.

Awww man... that wasn't very friendly of me. I'm sorry, I'll try to show better hospitality next time. You passed maybe 300 feet from my house

As to the props... I think they would require a tail dragger with some seriously long main gear

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Looking at the Omaha Sectional, there appears to be a LOT of windmills in Nebraska. I thought the Altamont fields in California were impressive, but Nebraska seem to have them beat. I gotta go out there some day & bsee them for real.

 

[Henning]

It looks like the blades are made from composites. I'm guessing that the lengthwise marks on the inside surface were made by removing the mold from the inside.

Nope, that's from the vacuum bagging and from putting the two halves together. They may have laid them up one piece, but I doubt it, makes the vacuum bagging process awful trick, but that long mark on one side makes me think they may have. Be a real PITA to do it right, but if you have the money anything is possible. I don't see why you'd do it thatway though, I cant really see a grat benefit for those blades.

 

[Nav8tor]

Nope, that's from the vacuum bagging and from putting the two halves together. They may have laid them up one piece, but I doubt it, makes the vacuum bagging process awful trick, but that long mark on one side makes me think they may have. Be a real PITA to do it right, but if you have the money anything is possible. I don't see why you'd do it thatway though, I cant really see a grat benefit for those blades.

It looks to me like it was tooled from the inside with the vacuum bag on the outside. I don't see any seams, which leads me to beleive it was cured in one piece.

 

[AdamZ]

Just drive up 476 to the poconos in PA up to 81 and Rt 6 and you will see those babys up on the ridges generating power. They are an awesome sight.

 

[tonycondon]

i once watched a crop duster working a field with windmills in it. that was pretty interesting. at least the windmills were lined up so he didnt have to weave.