Navigating Wind Turbines – Understanding Yaw Motors

8004359346Most often, a set of motors is used to direct large wind turbines into the wind, which ultimately results in the production of electricity. These motors are referred to as the yaw drive. They rotate the entire top portion of a yaw motor wind turbine. At Warfield Electric Co., we offer electric motor sales, refurbishment, and repairs, including for yaw motors.

Yaw Motors in Wind Turbines
The mechanism on wind turbines that moves the blades and the nacelle based on the direction of the wind is referred to as the yaw control mechanism. It allows the wind turbine to leverage the maximum available wind at any point in time.

Large wind turbines almost always include a yaw motor which rotates the wind turbine in accordance with the wind direction. This yaw motor wind turbine arrangement and process is referred to as active yaw control.

We remanufacture a number of common yaw motors, including:

    • Bonfiglioli 3.5 kW Yaw motor designed for Suzlon wind turbine
    • Seimec 4 HP Yaw motor
    • VEM 3.6 kW Yaw Motor designed for use in GE wind turbines
    • VEM 3.7 kW Yaw motor designed for use in Mitsubishi wind turbine
    • Bonfiglioli 4.6 kW Yaw motor

The types of yaw control available for wind turbine operations include active and passive yaw control.

Active Yaw Control
An active yaw control arrangement features a standing still tower with a device that rotates the wind turbine. The yaw control system detects the wind direction and adjusts accordingly to face the wind in order to leverage it for the generation of electricity. This type of system is commonly used on wind farms and for large wind turbines. Wind turbines that include active yaw control may feature various workings and gears based on the turbine design.

Passive Yaw Control
A passive yaw control arrangement features a wind turbine rotor which moves from the force of the wind. Standard passive control systems feature a roller bearing connection with the roller bearing situated between the wind turbine tower and the nacelle. They also feature a tail fin connected to the nacelle.

Smaller wind turbines utilize tail fins. However, the tail fin is not needed during a condition of downwind, because in such a case the turbine rotor is able to adjust the nacelle to face the wind.

When the winds are traveling in a skewed direction, passive control is required to regulate and slow down the movement of the yaw around the tower when the wind direction suddenly changes.

If you are looking for an electrical motor that matches your wind turbine requirements, check out our selection yaw motors to achieve the optimum yaw motor wind turbine arrangement.

To learn about the yaw motors we offer for wind turbine applications, call us today at 800.435.9346 or complete our contact form and leave us a message.