Niall McMahon

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Blade-Integrated Overspeed Protection for Small Wind Turbines

L. Staudt, N. McMahon, P. Rogers, R. Byrne and P. MacArtain.

Draft Paper.

[ Abstract ]   Preprint

Abstract

In the 1980s many wind turbines were stall-regulated fixed-pitch machines. The rotors were usually equipped with integral overspeed protection such as ailerons, tip brakes, flip tips and other similar devices. The market for larger small wind turbines is now re-appearing, and it is conceivable that integral rotor overspeed control will once again become prominent. Although electrical braking techniques associated with permanent magnet generators are useful, an independent rotor-based overspeed control mechanism is desirable. We demonstrate that it is possible to effect braking using particular leading-edge profiles.

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