National lab studies building better wind turbines

Posted at: 07/10/2009 11:25 AM
By: SUE MAJOR HOLMES, Associated Press Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The head of wind technology research at Sandia National Laboratories views the wind as fuel.

And Jose Zayas says the lab's job is to make improvements in how to harness the wind.

Zayas says lab wind projects are aimed at driving down costs by improving how efficiently turbines operate.

Zayas says that means making them smarter.

A Sandia project with Purdue University is working to identify the best types of sensors to put on blades and the best place to put them on the blades.

Sensors constantly monitor wind pressure on the blades to help determine their motion and how well the structure responds.

Zayas says sensors talk to the turbine's control system via software, which then can allow the machine to take action to reduce possible damage.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Print Story