Delta Dirt 1,814 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Just saw on news where the Texas power grid is down because the wind turbines in west Texas are frozen. Why has this phenonomen not happened before to the turbines installed before further north??? This is record breaking cold for the South and Texas------but in reality somewhat normal for ya'll in the northern regions. ?????what am I missing. DD 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
1480x3 455 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Different weights of oil in them depending on region ? Just a guess. Maybe they don't even have oil in them ? Don't know. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ihfan4life 3,355 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 I saw a picture of a helicopter being used to spray a deicing solution onto the windmills. I’m wondering if what Texas is experiencing with this cold weather has more of an ice storm effect than just cold, therefore creating the problem and not the cold alone being the issues. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
new guy 3,122 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 They didn't switch to winter blades. 21 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jeeper61 1,444 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 The more we count on wind and solar the more impact the weather has on the power grid. 7 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sandhiller 16,559 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 18 minutes ago, Ihfan4life said: I saw a picture of a helicopter being used to spray a deicing solution onto the windmills. I’m wondering if what Texas is experiencing with this cold weather has more of an ice storm effect than just cold, therefore creating the problem and not the cold alone being the issues. ? 2 1 5 1 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
5288IH 238 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 8 minutes ago, new guy said: They didn't switch to winter blades. Should have hit the reverse switch 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
new guy 3,122 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 3 minutes ago, sandhiller said: ? That is seriously stupid? 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jeeper61 1,444 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 3 minutes ago, new guy said: That is seriously stupid? How most government money is spent. I will say that is a better use of jet fuel than flying JK around to negotiate our greenness 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Delta Dirt 1,814 Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 I talked with Roger Byrne in Mn tonight-------his thought was the turbines were shut down due to icing. Seeing the pictures of the choppers spraying on de-icer better explains it to this otherwise uninformed Mississippi red-neck. Thanks Sandhiller-----thanks Roger. DD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supermpuller 93 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Just as cold in Indiana and over 12 in. of snow and windmills doing fine same in VanWert Ohio witch powers the Ft. Wayne truck plant. Winter maintenance programs is a must before a artic blast. You ever see drivers in Texas drive in snow and ice, one problem its hard to do going 75 plus. Texas needs to spend some money on there power grit because they get nailed every 8-10 years just like they did this time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timothy56 97 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 What NO blade warmers!!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lazy WP 805 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 I don’t think you guys up north understand just how nasty the ice can get down there. I will take snow and blizzards any day over that crap!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
new guy 3,122 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 They get ice up north too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gearclash 1,056 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 My understanding is the southern wind turbines are not built to the same spec as northern turbines as far as cold weather capabilities. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig61019 291 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Or maybe they are using this to cut a new deal for subsidies from the new regime that is so into “green” energy!? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supermpuller 93 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 13 minutes ago, Gearclash said: My understanding is the southern wind turbines are not built to the same spec as northern turbines as far as cold weather capabilities. Could be, point taken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SONNY 126 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Our turbines here just went thru 2 big ice storms and never did shut down ----As for Texas---well big heads and no brains! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ihfarmer1586 525 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 14 hours ago, new guy said: They didn't switch to winter blades. They are going to fix it by putting tire chains on the blades...? 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkG 920 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 I heard that many coal, nuclear, and natural gas plants are in planed outages. They can’t just restart them because pipes are cut out and equipment is disassembled for maintence. They basically got caught with their pants down. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
N S 121 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 As always and oft forgotten - Cash Is King - no way around it. Green new deal, yeah ok, tell that to the 5 plus million people freezing their carcass off, with zero power, and those aficionados of the electronic banking system, bitcoin and other cyber forms of money, that no one can access, cause uh, ya know, their ain't no electricity ...... Can't even buy gas for your generator from a hand pumped tank cause, uh, there ain't no electricity to run your stupid debit/bank card. Buying food, uh, no electricity for transactions, and you didn't think far enough ahead to stash aside 3 months worth cause our just in time delivery system & high tech (electricity driven) gadgets will save you. Yeah how's that working out for ya Eh! Thanks, but I'll stick with my cash & coin inna pocket just the same. I don't need no help, I can screw up my life very well all by myself, thank you..... 5 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
maxxum 140 124 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 heard on the local news today by our public utilities Commissioner that onxe it gets to a certain temp below zero the wind towers no longer can produce, but in fact have to start drawing power to run heaters to keep the hydraulic oil warm. I live in northeast South Dakota and we have two wind projects going right now around 100 and some towers. we had blackouts today. 1.75 hrs out -22° this am not having power not good on the cattle waterer. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bitty 6,071 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 11 hours ago, Lazy WP said: I don’t think you guys up north understand just how nasty the ice can get down there. I will take snow and blizzards any day over that crap!! We had around 1/2" of ice over night . It's been in the 20's and below temperature lately so the ground is well frozen. We had a miserable time getting the state road good enough for the feed mixer to climb the hill . It's pulled behind a 7140 mfd with chains on the front tires 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rawleigh99 961 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 I've noticed that the national media has not mentioned the fact that the wind turbines and solar farms aren't producing electricity. All they want to talk about is how the natural gas well not producing as much as they need to. Funny how that works. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supermpuller 93 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 First to shut down were coal, nuclear and natural gas plants because of lack of weatherized of power plants that led to low pressure in gas lines and and frozen instruments and generators. Texas also aggressively deregulated the power grid under Ercot to cut cost and over head rules. Solar power needs sun but the wind farms problem with icing wouldn't have happen if Texas would have done what OK , Kansas and northern states do , equipped the blades with heat like jets do or use automatic deicer sprayers but they wanted to save money. The cause of the disaster was a complete failure to plan for extreme weather scenaries and save money. The only think ERCOT worried about was to keep the AC going in the summer heat and hope for a mild winter. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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