Question

Why is wind turbine designed to stop operation at cut out velocity?

(a) To protect wheel against damage

(b) To make a quick stop in emergencies

(c) To improve the efficiency

(d) In order to adjust the blades to wind direction

The question was posed to me by my college professor while I was bunking the class.

Question is from Wind Turbine Operation in section Wind Energy of Energy Engineering

Answer 1

The correct answer is (a) To protect wheel against damage

Easy explanation: To protect the turbine wheel against damage at very high wind velocities, it is designed to stop operation (such as feathering the blades) at cut out velocity. Thus the wind turbine operates at rated velocities and at constant power between the rated and cut out velocities and ceases the operation above the cut out velocity.