Pitch Control Critical for Wind Power

Pitch controls adjust the blades in wind turbines by rotating them so that they use the right fraction of the available wind energy to get the most power output, all the while ensuring the turbine does not exceed its maximum rotational speed. When pitch controls do break, the ideal replacement is something a maintenance technician can carry, along with a satchel or kit of tools. Besides the challenges of getting to the turbine’s nacelle, equipment there must survive ambient temperatures ranging from −40° to 130° F (−40° to +55°C) and prolonged vibrations that put great stress on components. [...]taking a design-for-purpose approach—similar to that used for wind turbines, particularly with environmental considerations and reliability in mind—engineers could likely improve the vane controllers and have them withstand the rugged environments where vibration and dirt can take a toll on sensitive components.