Posted on 02/01/2010 10:54:44 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
Last year, about a dozen Minnesota communities dreamed of clean, green energy: spinning windmills powering hundreds of homes.
Now, months after the deadline, the windmills stand largely immobile, and communities are still waiting for the power to flow.
Eleven cities, including North St. Paul and Anoka, are participating in the wind turbine project, each getting a 115-foot windmill via the Minnesota Municipal Power Association, or MMPA.
The turbines were to be fully operational by Nov. 7. To date, the number is zero.
One reason offered this week at a North St. Paul City Council meeting: hydraulic fluid and lubricating oil in the turbines' gear boxes.
In cold weather, the fluid turns gel-like and doesn't flow, said Derick Dahlen, president of Avant Energy, which manages the MMPA.
That can be particularly problematic if the turbines are already at a standstill.
To fix the problem, a contractor installed heating elements this week in the turbines.
In addition, heat tracing is likely to be added to the hydraulic lines and lubrication oil system.
The windmills each cost about $417,000 and have been erected in Anoka, Arlington, Brownton, Buffalo, Chaska, East Grand Forks, Le Sueur, North St. Paul, Olivia, Shakopee and Winthrop, as well as at the MMPA's energy park in Faribault.
To fund the project, MMPA sold $5 million in zero-interest bonds.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
I know what, let’s build a small power generating plant next to each windmill to generate the power to run the heaters to melt the snow off the solar cells to heat the oil to allow the windmill to run.......and the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around............
Unicorns on treadmills.
Too bad that kind of info won't be on the front page of my local paper.
Oh, okay. I had a feeling I didn’t have it quite right.
Why didn't they use Amsoil products?
Here in PA they used to mix a little kerosene in with the diesel for the school buses. Last year they had to stop doing that because of emissions, and use some new miracle additive.
That didn’t work.
Oil turning gel-like in winter.
Years ago a friend drove a tank truck from California to Alaska hauling synthetic oil for the equipment up there. Its advantage is that it doesn’t increase in viscosity as much when its cold. Lubricating mechanical devices in cold weather is thoroughly explored territory.
I’m very skeptical that engineers designing the wind turbines didn’t design for winter temperatures.
He lives out in the country and his nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away. He has about 6 acres.
Pixie dust...
The engineer that designed these turbines is now working for Government Motors.
And apparently never heard of 5W oil. :)
Maybe they just should hire Jiffy Lube to go change the oil in spring and fall.
I recommend that they build an enclosure around the turbine and heat the enclosed space with natural gas. Then, to make the turbine move, they should install fans in front of the blades to blow the warmed air across the indoor blades. This should have the side benefit of keeping the output of the wind turbine constant, thus avoiding the typical problem of reduced output when the wind is not blowing.
This should still be significantly more cost effective that the greenies typical boondoggles...
It’s Bush’s fault...
Diesel will also gel up. You’re wrong on the ethanol also.
oh, that’s good. that’s very good.
The heating coils will be powered by electricity from the windmills which will be able to produce power because the heating coils thaw the windmills which will power the heating coils.....but fear not, any excess power will be diverted to the peasantry shivering below.
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