Wind Turbine Tower Foundation

Hi..Is this going to be a siple tower or a tower supportrd by guy wires?
I've looked at plenty of diy wind power sites and they all use the latter.
(Unfortunately my house isn't on a suit able site for wind power.)

This link has some good stuff.

Can I play, can I, can I, eh? eh?

Del

Thanks Del the Cat,

This project is for the people of the Island of Yap in Micronesia. I've volunteered to help the EE who has taken the initiative to start promote the use of clean energy for the whole Island who totally depends on the only one diesel power plant that provides electricity.

The wind turbine that we are looking at uses a tubular steel monopole tower. There are no guys for the support. Tower height is 121 ft (37 m.) base to hub.

Thanks for your input ba/el.

I will work on the formula and info that you provided.

Willyap06, I applaud anyone who can discuss this such as ba/el has done. I have two suggestions:

1. Take the manufacturer's stated electrical output at a stated wind speed and the stated wind-to-electrical energy efficiency of the turbine/generator combination. Compare this against your calculation for the wind load on the turbine and housing. The two should be close (within 50%). Then take the higher one and add to this the wind load on the tower. Recalculate the load for the highest design wind speed that can occur at the site.

2. Don't forget to consider harmonic vibration, or other factors. Local siting can increase (or diminish) the actual wind speed.

Your project is commendable.

--JMM

jmueller,

Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

I know I need to learn more about analysis and design, and something more, especially about this project.

Willy

Probably want to consider the moment translated from the rotation of the blades through the supports also (though this may be very small if the bearings are very low friction). There is also the aerodynamic effects of the support structure and other components (besides the blades). Just a pole in the wind can generate a substantial moment if it is tall enough.

Hi RCE,

Yes, there are other parts that need careful consideration in the analysis. The tower itself is one of this and be given careful consideration, besides the blades. I will be studying the effects of vortex shedding that ba/el had mentioned below. I will keep my ear open to everyone's comments and suggestions.

Thank you.

There is one other important consideration in designing the tower foundation and that is the question of vortex shedding of the tower structure. Slender free standing cylindrical structures such as chimneys should be designed to resist the dynamic effect of vortex shedding. Again, Commentary B of the NBC has a section on Vortex Shedding. It is a little too much to try and type it all out here, but I could scan it and email it to you if you wish.

I notice this site has a bit of info on Vortex Shedding as well. I have not gone through it in any detail, so don't know how useful it might be.

hi ba/el,

I appreciate very much your mention of the dynamic effect of vortex shedding. I will visit the site that you provided and learn more about this. If you can spare me some of your precious time, I will be very grateful if you will send me a copy.

If you have noticed, there is additional vote above for "good answers", 1 vote from me.

Thank you again.

Is vortex shedding the reason I often see a fin in a spiral up the outside surface of a tall stack in a refinery? If so, would this type of feature be beneficial on a wind turbine tower?

--JMM

Yes and no.

Dear I also came across the same problem during wind analysis on moving blades at survival wind speed.

kindly let me know if you get some details

reg.

kishor