Title: M2L1 Glossary
Course: WIND 100WH Introduction to Wind Energy > Section: WIND 100WH Introduction to Wind Energy

M2L1 Glossary

Terms

Term | Definitions
Anemometer | a "wind speed" meter
Bearing pillow-block | case used to house shaft bearings and mount them to chassis, bedplate, or other structures
Brake | used to lock a device into position for maintenance or for protection during harsh conditions or failures
Controller | a device used to control functions of another
Deck, mid | the top deck (walking area) of the lower tower section (large wind turbines)
Deck, saddle | the top deck (walking area) of the middle tower section or the bottom deck of the upper tower section  (large wind turbines)
Deck, yaw | the deck (walking area) of the top tower section (large wind turbines)
Downwind HAWT | a type of horizontal-axis wind turbine.  Wind passes the nacelle, then over the rotor/blades. (less structural stress)
DTA | the down tower assembly:  it houses power conversion equipment and monitoring/control systems.
Grid-tied | a power generating systems designed to add any unused power into the electrical grid.
High-speed shaft | this is the shaft that connects the gearbox to the generator
hub | the rotating structure of a wind turbine that connects the blades to the drive train and nacelle; center point for blades to mount to
Low-speed shaft | also called the main shaft, this is the shaft that connects the rotor to the gearbox
Nacelle | the structure at the top of a wind turbine, acts as housing for the shafts, gearboxes, electrical/electronic control systems, generator, and various other components depending on size and usage.
Nose-cone | usually an aerodynamic cover for the front of hub
programmable logic controller (PLC) | a durable device for industrial process control using ladder logic.  Wind turbines use PLCs for control purposes.
rotor | the rotating assembly of the hub and blades, mounted on a shaft and connecting to the generator through a drive train
Rotor lock | used to lock the rotor into place by maintenance techs before servicing
Stand alone | a power generating systems designed to provide power to system that is isolated from the grid.  Any excess power generated is sometimes fed into storage batteries.
Teetering | mounting the rotor to a shaft tilted slightly upwards
Tower | tubing, lattice structure, or other type of structure used to elevate the nacelle/rotor to a height where wind speed is optimal; the large structure on which the rotor, drive train, and generator ...
Upwind HAWT | a type of horizontal-axis wind turbine.  Wind passes the rotor/blades first, then over the nacelle. (ordinary design)
yaw control | the system used to turn the nacelle and rotor into or out of the wind around a vertical axis