TailWinds turbine construction
Story and photos
Click on any photo to see an enlargement
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1. On December 19, 2001, a huge crane was hauled to the wind turbine site using 11 full-size semitrailers. The smaller crane on the right was used to assemble the larger one. |
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2. Once assembled, the crane used to install the turbine extended 270 feet—almost the length of a football field. |
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3. The tower arrived in three sections, each transported by a separate truck. The base of the tower is 16 feet in diameter. |
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4. The three blades arrive, each on a separate truck. Each blade is 84 feet long and weighs 4.2 tons. |
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5. The construction crew attached lines to the blades in preparation for lifting them so they can be attached to the hub. |
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6. A worker attaches a turbine blade to the hub. The hub weighs 3.5 tons. |
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7. Forty bolts attach each blade to the hub. (A glove on one of the bolts gives an indication of its size.) |
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8. Workers mount special hooks on this tower section so the assembly crane can hoist it. |
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9. The middle section of the wind turbine tower is set in place. |
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10. The assembly crane positions the top section of the tower. The tower is 237 feet tall. |
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11. A worker attaches the turbine’s 6.5-ton nacelle to the crane. The nacelle, which contains the turbine's generator, is 21 feet long, 7.5 feet wide, and 13 feet high. |
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12. The generator is inside of the nacelle. |
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13. The crane hoists the nacelle 237 feet to the top of the tower. |
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14. The crane positioned the nacelle at the top of the tower. |
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15. The crane lifted the rotor and hub assembly to the top of the wind tower where workers will attach it to the nacelle. |
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16. Construction workers stabilize the rotor assembly against the wind as it is hoisted to the top of the wind tower. |
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17. A view of the completed wind turbine. December 28, 2001. |
