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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Aluminum-blade development for the Mod-0A 200-kilowatt wind turbine

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5625708· OSTI ID:5625708
This report documents the operating experience with two aluminum blades used on the DOE/NASA Mod-0A 200-kilowatt wind turbine located at Clayton, New Mexico. Each Mod-0A aluminum blade is 59.9 feet long and weighs 2360 pounds. The aluminum Mod-0A blade design requirements, the selected design, fabrication procedures, and the blade analyses are discussed. A detailed chronology is presented on the operating experience of the Mod-0A aluminum blades used at Clayton, New Mexico. Blade structural damage was experienced. Inspection and damage assessment were required. Structural modifications that were incorporated to the blades successfully extended the useful operating life of the blades. The aluminum blades completed the planned 2 years of operation of the Clayton wind turbine. The blades were removed from service in August 1980 to allow testing of advanced technology wood composite blades.
Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center; Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AI01-76ET20370
OSTI ID:
5625708
Report Number(s):
DOE/NASA/20370-20; NASA-TM-82594; ON: DE82005611
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English