The core of the wind turbine mechanical device is the permanent magnet, which is a special magnet with strong permanent magnet characteristics. Before the invention of wind turbines, the main source of electricity was fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. Although these are very useful, they have a major flaw. They emit an alarming amount of carbon dioxide, which is toxic to humans and the environment.
1. Why are wind turbines more popular?
People generally accept wind turbines as the main source of power only because they are a clean energy source, and environmental sustainability has been a hot topic for some time. The fact that wind turbines only produce clean energy (do not emit any toxic substances to the environment) makes them the main products of the power industry, and they will stay-and the core of this purpose is the existence of permanent magnets (such as neodymium magnets). Neodymium magnets are a type of rare-earth magnet. Another example is the neodymium-iron-boron combination. These turbines are used in wind turbine design to reduce costs, increase reliability, and greatly reduce the need for continuous and expensive maintenance.
2. How do permanent magnets work in wind turbines?
The operation of a wind turbine generator is based on the electromagnetic principle. When an electrical conductor rotates in a magnetic field, it generates electricity. When the blades of the turbine rotate in the wind direction, electromagnetic induction occurs in the magnetic field of the permanent magnets in the turbine to generate electricity. The generator of the wind turbine shaft converts the motion of the blades into electrical energy. However, the permanent magnet in the wind turbine does not use the slip ring used in the electromagnet but uses the magnetic field of a strong rare-earth magnet.
3. The difference between the electromagnet and permanent magnet.
Unlike electromagnets, permanent magnets do not require any external power source. The main difference between using electromagnets and permanent magnets in wind turbines is that electromagnets require slip rings to power the electromagnets, while permanent magnets do not. Likewise, gearboxes require continuous maintenance, which can significantly increase costs.
The function of the gearbox is to convert the low speed of the turbine shaft into the higher speed required by the induction generator to generate electricity, but the gearbox will cause friction and reduce performance. For example, by using neodymium magnets instead of electromagnets, we can increase the efficiency of turbines, reduce efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
4. How do magnets provide better installation solutions for wind turbines?
In addition to helping to generate electricity, permanent magnets play a vital role in helping to maintain the integrity of the turbine's high walls. If you are lucky enough to see the inside of a wind turbine generator, you will see a lot of cables and very long ladders attached to the wall, some of which contain elevators that allow workers to enter the turbine nacelle. The traditional solution to achieve this is to drill holes in the wall of the turbine to install the bracket or to weld the bracket to the wall to fix the bracket. Unfortunately, this solution can affect the integrity of the wall, reduce its strength, and make it susceptible to corrosion.
Conclusion
Fortunately, permanent magnets have accelerated the development of wind turbines by allowing engineers to mount brackets on walls without drilling or welding anything. Some turbine manufacturers cleverly use magnetic mounting systems to attach wall brackets and other important materials to the turbine wall. Strong rare earth metals such as neodymium magnets are excellent choices for such applications.