The affects of Lenz's Law on Wind Turbines

[babayevdavid]

Hi,

If an electrical generator induces a current that opposes the shifting magnetic field that creates it then why don't the wind turbines on wind farms just stop turning after a while? Is it because they are not directly connected or drawn on by electrical devices?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[berkeman]

Hi,

If an electrical generator induces a current that opposes the shifting magnetic field that creates it then why don't the wind turbines on wind farms just stop turning after a while? Is it because they are not directly connected or drawn on by electrical devices?

Thank you all in advance!

Because of the wind...

 

[babayevdavid]

Sure, but at some point wouldn't the wind not be enough to counteract the effects of the counter electromotive force?

 

[Pengwuino]

Sure, but at some point wouldn't the wind not be enough to counteract the effects of the counter electromotive force?

At some point you will reach equilibrium and the wind will counteract the effect of Lenz's law exactly and the turbine will simply spin at that speed forever (in an ideal world with constant current and wind supplies) .

 

[PJC01]

Lenz's Law, also known as the law of electromagnetic induction, states that when a changing magnetic field passes through a conductor, it induces a current in the conductor that creates a magnetic field that opposes the original changing magnetic field. This means that in the case of wind turbines, the rotation of the blades creates a changing magnetic field that induces a current in the generator. This current then creates a magnetic field that opposes the rotation of the blades, thus slowing them down.

However, wind turbines are designed to overcome this effect. They are connected to a gearbox and a power converter, which convert the rotational energy of the blades into electrical energy and then regulate the frequency and voltage of the electricity produced. This means that the wind turbines are not directly connected to the electrical devices and are not affected by Lenz's Law in the same way.

Additionally, wind turbines are designed to operate within a specific range of wind speeds. If the wind speed is too low, the blades will not rotate fast enough to generate electricity, and if the wind speed is too high, the blades will be shut down to prevent damage. This also helps to prevent the wind turbines from stopping due to the effects of Lenz's Law.

In summary, while Lenz's Law does have an impact on wind turbines, they are designed and equipped to overcome this effect and continue operating efficiently.