If these blades are indestructible why do they need to even be replaced? :)
I don’t think any aero structure is indestructible.
It’s always a tradeoff of weight vs life vs cost.
If these blades are indestructible why do they need to even be replaced?
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Fatigue is the reason they need to be replaced on a regular basis..... and I suspect these bigger ones will have a need to be replaced on an even more frequent basis.
Offshore IWTs also have another problem... the experience with the offshore UK ones is that the blades have much higher erosion rates because of water droplets hitting the blades. I have looked at one application there in particular where they have gone to a much larger size... the blade erosion was so bad that the blades were done in just a bit over a year.
I think the mechanisms wear out and the companies make more $$$ from new dedigns that are incompatible, such as larger ir newly designed blades.
And/or it is cheaper to buy entire new units than refurbish the old.
I am 100% sure about the landfill problem. The rest is worth a net search.