June 21, 2010: Flaming Fans

xoxoxoBruce · 06-20-2010, 11:04 PM

Someone emailed me a whole bunch of pictures of burning wind turbines.
At first thought was lightning strikes, but the more I thought about it, I would think they would be built to handle that. After all, they stick way up in the air, out in the open. But snooping around the web, it seems to be the gear box oil, from malfunctioning drivetrains, catching fire.

I didn't find any frequency of failure statistics, but seeing what can happen when they do fail makes me wonder. Is it safe to be plonking these things down in flammable forests and grasslands, out in the middle of nowhere?

lumberjim · 06-20-2010, 11:48 PM

spudcon · 06-21-2010, 12:20 AM

Not to worry, FEMA will clean up the oil spills.

SPUCK · 06-21-2010, 04:48 AM

Awesome! The birds are hitting back!

TheMercenary · 06-21-2010, 05:12 AM

That looks like it is going to be expensive to repair.

dacliff · 06-21-2010, 06:48 AM

LOL! It's funny because they exist to use cleaner energy.

classicman · 06-21-2010, 10:41 AM

I think I posted this before - or someone else did.
At least this one didn't catch fire. Dunno where those blades flew off to though :eek

I read something about them having difficulty with high winds. They have brake systems which overheat or something??? Maybe its the gearboxes to which Bruce is referring.

found this one also . . .

Shawnee123 · 06-21-2010, 10:46 AM

I thought this thread was going to be about the audience at a Bette Midler show.

Spexxvet · 06-21-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I thought this thread was going to be about the audience at a Bette Midler show.

Haggis!

Gravdigr · 06-21-2010, 12:52 PM

About a month ago I saw one of these turbines en route to who-knows-where. The things can be huge. The three turbine blades/props stopped at a local truck stop, I went back and waited around for a little while, I thought the hub might be travelling with the props, no such luck.

ToastyOhs · 06-21-2010, 01:42 PM

Safe?! Lets ask the folks on the Gulf Coast right now if they would rather deal with one of these things catching on fire and falling over, or the huge mess they currently have.

Sorry, I apologize for my momentary trip to the soap box.

TheMercenary · 06-21-2010, 01:46 PM

Holy crap Grav! that thing is much bigger than I imagined.

classicman · 06-21-2010, 01:49 PM

lol - No problem.

Shawnee123 · 06-21-2010, 02:14 PM

LOL

Sheldonrs · 06-21-2010, 03:02 PM

The horror!!!

06-20-2010, 11:04 PM	#1
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	June 21, 2010: Flaming Fans Someone emailed me a whole bunch of pictures of burning wind turbines. At first thought was lightning strikes, but the more I thought about it, I would think they would be built to handle that. After all, they stick way up in the air, out in the open. But snooping around the web, it seems to be the gear box oil, from malfunctioning drivetrains, catching fire. I didn't find any frequency of failure statistics, but seeing what can happen when they do fail makes me wonder. Is it safe to be plonking these things down in flammable forests and grasslands, out in the middle of nowhere? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-20-2010, 11:48 PM	#2
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	__________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

06-21-2010, 12:20 AM	#3
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	Not to worry, FEMA will clean up the oil spills. __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

06-21-2010, 10:41 AM	#7
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	I think I posted this before - or someone else did. At least this one didn't catch fire. Dunno where those blades flew off to though :eek I read something about them having difficulty with high winds. They have brake systems which overheat or something??? Maybe its the gearboxes to which Bruce is referring. found this one also . . . __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

06-21-2010, 10:46 AM	#8
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I thought this thread was going to be about the audience at a Bette Midler show. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-21-2010, 04:48 AM	#4
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Awesome! The birds are hitting back!

06-21-2010, 05:12 AM	#5
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	That looks like it is going to be expensive to repair.

06-21-2010, 06:48 AM	#6
dacliff Confounded Conjuror Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 33	LOL! It's funny because they exist to use cleaner energy.

06-21-2010, 12:52 PM	#10
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	About a month ago I saw one of these turbines en route to who-knows-where. The things can be huge. The three turbine blades/props stopped at a local truck stop, I went back and waited around for a little while, I thought the hub might be travelling with the props, no such luck. Attached Images __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

06-21-2010, 01:42 PM	#11
ToastyOhs Discontinued Breakfast Food Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Coastal Maine, USA Posts: 58	Safe?! Lets ask the folks on the Gulf Coast right now if they would rather deal with one of these things catching on fire and falling over, or the huge mess they currently have. Sorry, I apologize for my momentary trip to the soap box.

06-21-2010, 01:46 PM	#12
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Holy crap Grav! that thing is much bigger than I imagined.

06-21-2010, 01:49 PM	#13
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	lol - No problem. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

06-21-2010, 02:14 PM	#14
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	LOL Attached Images __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

06-21-2010, 03:02 PM	#15
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	Ugly turban accidents The horror!!! Attached Images __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

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