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Magnets can be used in wind farms all over the globe to reduce costs, increase reliability, and extend maintenance intervals.
Some of the largest wind turbines in the world are powered by permanent magnets. To lower costs, increase reliability, and decrease the need for costly and ongoing maintenance, some wind-turbine designs have used powerful neodymium iron-boron magnets.
Wind turbine generators
Michael Faraday, an 1831 inventor of the electromagnetic generator, created it. Faraday discovered that an electric current could be produced in a conductor by moving it through a magnetic field. Today, nearly 200 years after Faraday’s discovery, magnetic module are still an important part of modern electric power generation. Engineers continue to improve upon Faraday’s inventions and create new designs to address 21st-century problems.
Induction generators are used in some utility-scale wind-turbine designs to generate electricity. To create a magnetic field, induction generators employ electromagnets that are integrated into a rotor. The generator rotates within it near the stationary coils of wire. The rotating magnetic field creates large currents in the wire coils that can be used to power homes, schools and businesses.
Slip rings are required to power the electromagnets. A gearbox is needed to convert the turbine shaft’s low rotational speed to the higher speeds induction generators need to produce electricity. These massive gearboxes are typically between 15 and 80 tonnes in weight. Designers must build towers that are stronger and more expensive to support the added weight of a particular gearbox. In certain applications such as offshore windfarms, gearboxes require regular maintenance. This can prove difficult. Gearboxes can also cause friction losses, which can reduce overall efficiency.
An alternative type of wind turbine generator is the permanent magnet synchronous generator. These generators are not like induction generators. They use the magnetic field created by strong rare-earth magnets to generate a magnetic field. To create a magnetic field, they don’t require slip rings or external power sources. They can operate at lower speeds and are powered directly by the turbine shaft. This allows towers to be made at a lower price and reduces their weight. This eliminates the need for a gearbox, which results in increased reliability, lower maintenance costs, and higher efficiency. Magnets are able to be used by designers to remove mechanical gearboxes in wind turbines. This is an example of how magnets can innovate in solving operational and economic problems in modern turbines.
Magnetic mounting solutions are available for ladders and other equipment
To allow workers to reach the turbine nacelle, the interior of a windturbine is filled with ladders, cables, and sometimes elevators. These equipment should be attached to the tower’s wall. This problem has been solved in the past by drilling holes through the tower wall to mount brackets or welding brackets directly to it. Drilling holes in the tower wall can reduce its mechanical strength, increase the risk of metal fatigue, and cause corrosion. This could compromise the safety and integrity of the tower. Skilled labor is required to attach brackets directly on the tower. Both options increase construction time and costs.
Magnetic mounting systems are used by wind-turbine manufacturers to attach ladders and other equipment securely to the tower walls. This allows equipment to be attached to the tower without drilling holes or welding brackets to the tower walls. This progressive mounting method reduces construction costs and time without causing metal fatigue or corrosion. It is also an example of how magnets can be effectively used to solve operational and financial limitations in modern wind turbines. Many strong neodymium magnetic magnets are strategically placed along the length of the ladder to increase worker safety. They prevent swaying and other lateral movement that could lead to a worker falling. This can cause both physical and financial damage to the company as well as to the industry.
Sustainable growth and sustainability of wind energy as renewable resource
Today, wind energy is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the utility sector. The U.S. wind industry is expected to double its current production capacity, from 113 GW in 2020 down to 224 GW by 2030. [1]
“The immense benefits of using magnets in wind turbines to create a cleaner and safer source of wind power has enormous positive implications on our planet, our population, and the way that we live and work,” stated Adam Poling, Amazing Magnets Chief Operation Officer.
The company has committed multiple resources to the renewable resource.
The wind is a renewable and clean fuel source that can be used to produce electric power. Wind turbines can be combined with other renewable energy sources in order to help countries and states meet their renewable portfolio standards. This will also help them to reduce the pace of climate change. Wind turbines don’t emit any harmful greenhouse gases or carbon dioxide, making them more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuel-based energy sources.
Wind energy offers additional benefits than traditional power generation sources, in addition to reducing greenhouse gases emissions. In the production of electricity, natural gas, and coal power plants require a surprising amount of water. These types of power plants use water to make steam, cool down, and control emissions. Condensation is a major source of water that eventually escapes into the atmosphere. Wind turbines, on the other hand, do not need water to generate electricity. In areas where water availability is limited, wind farms are of great value.
One of the most significant benefits of wind power is that it is free to obtain local fuel. Contrary to this, the fuel costs of fossil fuels can make up one of the most expensive operating costs for power plants. They may have to be sourced from overseas suppliers which can lead to dependence on interruptions in supply chains and be subjected by geopolitical conflict. Wind energy can be used to make countries more energy-independent and less vulnerable to price fluctuations in fossil fuels.
Wind is not dependent on finite fuel sources like coal or natural gas to produce power. The sun’s heat causes wind to be produced by the temperature and pressure variations in the atmosphere. Wind is an endless source of energy. It can be used as a fuel source and will continue to blow as long as there is sun.
Conclusion
Some of the largest wind turbines in the world are powered by magnets. Wind energy is growing at an incredible rate. The role of magnets in creating this clean energy is not to be ignored. It aligns with the mega-trend for sustainability and all its benefits. Magnets are used in many wind farms to reduce costs, increase reliability, and extend maintenance intervals. They are also used to reduce the cost of construction for new turbines, by eliminating the need to mount expensive equipment.