How strong is the wind before wind turbines need to be shut down

What happens if a wind turbine reaches 55 mph?

When the anemometer registers wind speeds higher than 55 miles per hour (mph) (cut-out speed varyies by turbine), it triggers the wind turbine to automatically shut off. When wind speeds surpass a modern utility-scale turbine’s rated wind speed, the blades begin to feather, or point into the wind to reduce their surface area.

How fast can a wind turbine run?

Wind Speed too High – Furling Speed As wind speed increases, the wind turbine will reach what is called its ‘rated speed’. This is the wind speed at which the turbine generates maximum electricity, and for a modern grid-scale wind turbine, this is about 25mph 4 (Beaufort Wind Force 6 – Strong Breeze).

Does too much wind cause wind turbines to stop?

But the strange this is that, even though this might sound like a contradiction, too much wind also causes wind turbines to stop. Anything in excess of 25 m/s (90 km/hr) is dangerous for the wind turbine so it opts to shut down. The connection speed is generally from 3 m/s (19.8 km/hr). This is the speed at which electricity starts to be generated.

Why does a wind turbine shut down?

Anything in excess of 25 m/s (90 km/hr) is dangerous for the wind turbine so it opts to shut down. The connection speed is generally from 3 m/s (19.8 km/hr). This is the speed at which electricity starts to be generated. Another reason for shutting down a wind turbine is to undertake preventive or corrective maintenance.

When does a wind turbine stop turning?

All modern wind turbines are are set to stop turning automatically if there’s too much energy in the wind. Some will shut down if the average speed of the wind is over a certain level for a period of time, while others will stop after a super strong gust (something like 100mph).

What is the difference between upwind and downwind turbines?

Upwind turbines—like the one shown here—face into the wind while downwind turbines face away. Most utility-scale land-based wind turbines are upwind turbines. The wind vane measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.