Unmatched                       Efficiencies

Model DT-30 Turbine:

Our 30 kW Turbine		Rotor Bearings
	← Featuring "Smart Turbine Technologies"      -- Direct Drive      -- Variable Speed      -- Active Pitch and Yaw      -- Up-Wind Orientation      -- Fail Safe Shut-Down                     (see below for more details)                                                                    →   The rotor bearings in our environment, under our loads and rpm's, are rated by the manufacturer at 122,000 hrs., or about 28 years.   The slew bearing used for yaw, and the bearings used in the pitch system exceed even those criterion.

Credit:       Dakota Turbines would like to recognize and thank the North Dakota Industrial Commission for funding assistance in the                    development of our turbine project through the Industrial Commission "Renewable Energy Program".

Turbine Spec. Sheet

Pictures of Recent   Turbine Installations:
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Direct Drive     →	Direct drive means no gearbox, lower production costs, and no ongoing maintenance and service costs (75 to 80% of maintenance costs) typical for turbines in our size range. Another major factor is not having the added in-efficiencies of the gearboxes themselves.
Variable Speed     →	Variable speed means that the turbine rotor spins in direct relation to the speed of the wind. This allows for the blades to achieve a maximum efficiency throughout the entire operating range, rather than reaching peak efficiency at one rpm and dropping off on either side, as is the case with a constant speed turbine.     --- see comparison chart ---
Active Pitch and Yaw   →	Our turbine rotor employs an extremely simple, safe and reliable method of pitching the blades. The system is closed-loop, offering precise control and verification of the blade pitch position. Yet there is a passive, fail-safe spring system that will park each individual blade due to any mechanical or electrical failure. The active yaw system keeps the turbine pointed into the wind to insure maximum capture of the energy available in the wind. The yaw system also acts as a redundant shut-down mechanism, turning the turbine 90° to the wind.  --- see additional information ---
Up-Wind  →	An upwind orientation eliminates the shadow effect of the nacelle and tower in affecting the efficiency of the blades. In combination with the active yaw, the blades remain pointed into the wind without the need to cone or flap the blades in an attempt to better track the wind as is required of down wind machines.

Fail-Safe Shut Down Systems  →	Our pitch system pulls the blades into "run" position against considerable spring tension on each blade. By default, the loss of electrical power or mechanical failure will cause the blades to turn 90° to the wind by the spring tension on each blade. This passive system is much more positive, safe, and puts less stress on the turbine than an electrical or mechanical braking process. The active yaw system is also programmed to turn the turbine 90° to the wind in response to any trouble, effectively providing a redundant shut-down system.
Putting it all Together  →	Generating electricity from wind is a 24/7/365 endeavor. Every percentage point of efficiency that can be garnered by optimizing the function of a wind turbine using "Smart Turbine Technologies" is huge in contributing to shortening the payback period of the investment. Even with the pro-active approach to making our turbine the most efficient it can be, it remains very mechanically simple with recommended maintenance required at - Zero.