Calculating Torque on a Turbine

In summary, the turbine is falling through the air and spinning counterclockwise. Torque is being applied to the turbine through the interaction between the turbine blades and the clockwise acceleration of air. This torque eventually balances out and stabilizes the rotation of the turbine. Skin friction may also play a role in this process.
  • #1
JT673
1
0
So I have a turbine falling through the air such that the free-body diagram for each of its rotor blades would look like:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2504/freebodypy6.png [Broken]

And the whole turbine spins counterclockwise

I understand that for this case you can split drag into form drag and skin friction, but how is torque being done on the turbine if there's no net force done in the horizontal direction?
Does skin friction apply to the torque?

Thanks,
JT
 
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  • #2
JT673 said:
The whole turbine spins counterclockwise. How is torque being done on the turbine if there's no net force done in the horizontal direction?
The air is being accelerated clockwise via interaction with the turbine blades, and reacts to this clockwise acceleration with a counter-clockwise torque on the turbine. Eventually the turbines rate of rotation reduces the effective angle of attack and clockwise acceleration of air, reducing the torque until all torques cancel, and the rate of rotation stabilizes.
 
  • #3


I would like to clarify that torque is not a force, but rather a measure of the rotational force applied to an object. In the case of a turbine falling through the air, the torque is being applied by the drag forces acting on the rotor blades. While there may not be a net force in the horizontal direction, there is still a net torque being applied due to the angled orientation of the blades.

Skin friction does not directly contribute to the torque on the turbine, as it is a force acting in the direction of the fluid flow. However, skin friction can indirectly affect the torque by changing the aerodynamic properties of the blades and thus altering the drag forces.

To accurately calculate the torque on the turbine, you would need to consider the individual forces acting on each rotor blade and their respective angles of application. This can be done using principles of vector addition and trigonometry. Additionally, the speed and direction of the falling turbine would also affect the torque. I hope this helps clarify the concept of torque in this scenario.
 

What is torque?

Torque is a measure of the rotational force applied to an object. In the context of a turbine, it is the force that causes the turbine to rotate.

How is torque calculated on a turbine?

To calculate torque on a turbine, you need to know the force acting on the blades and the distance between the force and the center of rotation. The formula for torque is torque = force x distance.

What factors affect the torque on a turbine?

The main factors that affect torque on a turbine are the size and shape of the blades, the speed of the wind or water, and the direction of the force acting on the blades.

Why is torque important in turbine design?

Torque is important in turbine design because it determines the amount of power that can be generated by the turbine. A higher torque means a greater rotational force and therefore, a higher power output.

How is torque used in the maintenance of turbines?

Torque is used in the maintenance of turbines to ensure that the blades are properly tightened and aligned. It is also used to monitor the performance of the turbine and detect any potential issues that may arise.

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