Friday, 28 March 2014

Ways Of Ensuring Wind Turbine Safety

By Juana Buchanan


Contrary to what many may think, the concept of wind turbines is not as recent. In fact, evidence show that mankind has harnessed the power of wind to carry out certain chores. For instance, windmills can pump water over an irrigated field. Technological advancements have led to the development of wind turbines capable of generating electricity. So, how safe is this energy source? Well, there are elaborate regulations to ensure wind turbine safety.

Before one can fully appreciate the significance of ensuring that the equipment is safe, they need to know the nature of the hazards. Both humans and environment have suffered from the effects of wrecked turbines let alone loose rotor blades. In some cases, fire caused by malfunctions in the rotors or short circuit have resulted in major damages. From homes to forests, the effects of these fires can be seen. Even a strained generator or gearbox can cause harm.

There are also some health risks tied to these powers. For example, the mills produce infra-sound that is harmful to human ears and can cause deafness, dizziness, sleeplessness and depression. Now, if you add the dangers that blade throw and ice formations may cause, you will realize that there is need for safety procedures.

There are many stages to effect the safeness of the equipment. First, ensure the safety for the turbine worker by insisting that they put on the right protective gear and have first aid kits. The second aspect is the safety during the installation. In that regard, protective clothing and use of tested equipments is a must. So, tying materials and lifting equipments must be in good condition.

One can also look at the safety procedures touching on repairs. As far as the maintenance safety goes, the wearing of appropriate clothing is important. The repairer must also use modern tools to guarantee the safety of others and not theirs only. In fact, just as the constructor is expected to use certified tools, the maintenance expert should too. Last but not least, the repair crew should have a safe way out in case of fire or turbine breakages.

This type of power, irrespective of the dangers and the stringent safety measures, has its pros and cons. On the brighter side, it provides green energy thus causes no pollution. It is also renewable and permanent. In fact, it has some of the highest potential in the market, with projections that it can provide up to 20 time energy needs of man. Now, provided that the project is safe, it can be constructed near homes and use the least space.

That this type of energy is cheaper to establish and operate makes it the best form to power rural economy. It never burdens the taxpayer since the government does not tax it. On the other hand, it only requires natural forces to run, which eliminates the need to transport fuel to the farm.

As mentioned before, there are a few challenges with this form of power generation. First, it might be unstable thus the need for strict rules. Also, some are noisy and cannot generate electricity in the absence of wind. Finally, it may disturb the natural look of an area.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment