An Otter Tail Company

Langdon Wind Energy Center photos

Calibrating and testing

Click on any photo to see an enlargement

Click to see an enlargement A 1 million-Btu heater was used to warm the towers so work could be performed.
Click to see an enlargement Inside the hub are controllers for the pitch of each of the wind blades. They adjust the blades to catch more or less wind, depending on wind speed. In fact, the turbine can be stopped by adjusting the pitch. Turbines must be shut down if the wind speed is less than 8 mph or more than 55 mph. The maximum output happens between 35 and 55 mph. Blade rotation speed is 10 to 20 rpm.
Click to see an enlargement Click to see an enlargement Inside the tower, the down tower assembly (DTA) holds the computer and electronics to control the generator.
Click to see an enlargement The last week of November 2007 was very cold with temperatures well below zero. (-26° F. was the coldest.)

The working conditions were extreme, but the weather also produced some beautiful sundogs.
Click to see an enlargement After a turbine is mechanically complete, General Electric, the turbine manufacturer, had crews test and commission each one.

Multiple completed turbines glisten in the December sun.