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Smith–Putnam wind turbine

December 28, 2023

43°39′29.6″N 73°6′22.7″W / 43.658222°N 73.106306°W / 43.658222; -73.106306[1]

The world's first megawatt-size wind turbine on Grandpa's Knob, Castleton, Vermont

The Smith–Putnam wind turbine[2] was the world's first megawatt-size wind turbine. In 1941 it was connected to the local electrical distribution system on Grandpa's Knob in Castleton, Vermont, US. It was designed by Palmer Cosslett Putnam and manufactured by the S. Morgan Smith Company. The 1.25 MW turbine operated for 1100 hours before a blade failed at a known weak point, which had not been reinforced due to wartime material shortages. It would be the largest wind turbine ever built until 1979.[3]

Description edit

The turbine had two blades, 175 feet (53 m) in diameter, on the down-wind side of a 120-foot (37 m)-foot steel lattice tower. Each blade was approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) wide and 66 feet (20 m) long, and weighed eight tons. The blades were built on steel spars and covered with a stainless steel skin. The blade spars were hinged at their root attachment to the hub, allowing them to assume a slight cone shape. The generator was a 1250 kva 600 RPM synchronous generator made by General Electric, producing 2,400 V at 60 cycles. The actual generation of this generator would be something around 1MW, allowing for a power factor of less than 1. The generator and rotor hub were mounted on a pintle beam, which allowed the rotor to capture wind from varying directions. The pitch of the blades was controlled by hydraulic cylinders to maintain constant speed.[4]

Origins edit

Palmer Putnam became interested in production of electric power from wind after observing high winds at Cape Cod. Putnam was aware of the Balaklava 100 kW turbine and desired to improve on its performance.[5] By 1937 he had enlisted General Electric, and Central Vermont Public Service. General Electric provided a generator, and Central Vermont Public Services Corporation was interested in an energy supply that could displace purchased power for meeting peak loads.[6] Only 23 months elapsed between first discussions and production of power.[7] Palmer concluded that the most promising concept was a two-bladed propeller driving a synchronous AC generator. He developed a preliminary design and cost estimates. Dr. Vannevar Bush, Dean of Engineering at MIT, reacted favorably when shown these calculations in 1937. Bush introduced Putnam to a vice president of General Electric Company, Mr. T. Knight. From this point on Putnam was able to enlist the services of some very talented people which included Theodore von Karman, a world-famous authority on aerodynamics, to assist in the design, parametric studies, cost analyses, site selection, and determination of wind characteristics.

In 1939, the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) was approached by Palmer C. Putnam, to design the turbine. Theodore von Kármán had William Rees Sears and W. Duncan Rannie carry out the aerodynamic design.[8] Unfortunately, Rannie's analytical findings regarding the stability of the giant windmill were not incorporated in the prototype that was built and tested on the mountain.[9]

Putnam obtained the financial and technical backing of the S. Morgan Smith Company of York, Pennsylvania. The Smith Company manufactured hydroelectric hydraulic turbines. Since the number of feasible sites for hydroelectric development was felt to be declining, the Smith company sought diversification into a new but related product line. The S. Morgan Smith Co. agreed to take on the project as general contractor and financed construction of a pilot turbine.

Construction edit

The site chosen for the prototype turbine was a previously unnamed 2,000-foot (610 m) elevation, named "Grandpa's Knob"; this mountain was not so high as to have excessive ice build up, but had high wind speeds. Access to the site required construction of a road with 12 to 15% grade. Due to the impending entry of the United States into World War II, some of the fundamental research and testing process was skipped so that major components could be made before wartime material shortages occurred.

Operation and failures edit

No-load testing of the unit began in August 1941 to verify mechanical operation of the turbine and the blade control system. The generator was first synchronized to the local electrical grid on the evening of October 19, 1941, and tested under load varying from zero to 700 kW. The unit operated for about 1000 hours between startup and February 1943, when a shaft bearing failed. Due to wartime material priorities, the bearing was not replaced until March 3, 1945, when the unit achieved another three weeks of operation.

In the early morning of March 26, 1945, the operator on duty in the nacelle of the turbine was thrown down by vibrations. He stopped the turbine. On investigation, it was found one turbine blade had broken off and fallen about 750 feet (230 m) away. The blade had failed at a previously repaired weak point in the spar; due to wartime shortages, it had been impractical to complete a full repair and reinforcement of the blade root.[6]

Aftermath edit

A study completed in 1945 suggested that a block of six turbines similar to the prototype, producing 9 MW, could be installed in Vermont for around US$190 per kilowatt. However, the economic value to the power utility was only $125 per kilowatt, and the wind turbine was not considered economically viable by a factor of 1.5.[10] Although the S. Morgan Smith company had spent more than US$1.25 million on the prototype turbine, entirely private funding, it concluded that there was insufficient prospect for profit on further development. Repairs were never done after the March 1945 failure. The prototype turbine was dismantled in 1946, leaving only concrete footings and a marker plaque at the site today. In the introduction to Putnam's book, Vannevar Bush stated that the project achieved proof of the concept of synchronous generation of wind power, and projected future commercial use of wind-generated electricity.[6]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ National Geodetic Survey datasheet for GRANDPAS KNOB WIND TURBINE horizontal control station (adjusted May 1998, accessed June 2013; search for PID OD1352 and check the box for "Include Destroyed Marks").
  2. ^ The History and State of the Art of Variable-Speed wind turbine Technology in WIND ENERGY 2003 P.W.Carlin, A.S.Laxson and E.B.Muljadi
  3. ^ A Pioneer is Vindicated in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Jan 1981, page 24, available at Google Books
  4. ^ Daniel Behrman, Solar energy: the awakening science Taylor & Francis, 1979 ISBN 0-7100-8939-2 pages 227–230
  5. ^ Asmus, Peter (2001). Reaping the wind : how mechanical wizards, visionaries, and profiteers helped shape our energy future. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. p. 45. ISBN 1-55963-707-2. OCLC 44794811.
  6. ^ a b c . Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-11-21. A Bold Effort in Vermont: The 1941 Smith–Putnam Wind Turbine, C. Sulzberger, retrieved 2009 Nov 21
  7. ^ Smith, Beauchamp E. (1973). "Smith–Putnam Wind Turbine Experiment". In Savino, Joseph M. (ed.). Wind energy conversion systems: workshop proceedings, Washington, D. C., June 11–13, 1973 (PDF). National Science Foundation (U.S.)/ National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 6.
  8. ^ W. Duncan Rannie – Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering, Volume 4 – The National Academies Press. 1991. doi:10.17226/1760. ISBN 978-0-309-04349-6.
  9. ^ Savino, Joseph M. (August 29–30, 1974). A Brief Summary of the Attempts to Develop Large Wind-Electric Generating Systems in the U.S. (PDF) (Report). Vol. NASA TM X-71605.
  10. ^ Erich Hau, Wind turbines: fundamentals, technologies, application, economicsBirkhäuser, 2006 ISBN 3-540-24240-6, page 36

Further reading edit

  • Putnam, Palmer Cosslett (1948). Power From The Wind. D. Van Nostrand Company.
  • Righter, Robert (1996). Wind energy in America : a history. Norman, Okla: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-2812-7.
  • , September 1941, TIME magazine, retrieved 2009 Nov 21
  • Engineering and Technology History Wiki, Palmer Putnam's 1.5 MW Wind Turbine, retrieved 2016 Jan 23

External links edit

  • Smith–Putnam Industrial Photos | Wind-Works.org

December 28, 2023
smith, putnam, wind, turbine, 658222, 106306, 658222, 106306, world, first, megawatt, size, wind, turbine, grandpa, knob, castleton, vermontthe, world, first, megawatt, size, wind, turbine, 1941, connected, local, electrical, distribution, system, grandpa, kno. 43 39 29 6 N 73 6 22 7 W 43 658222 N 73 106306 W 43 658222 73 106306 1 The world s first megawatt size wind turbine on Grandpa s Knob Castleton VermontThe Smith Putnam wind turbine 2 was the world s first megawatt size wind turbine In 1941 it was connected to the local electrical distribution system on Grandpa s Knob in Castleton Vermont US It was designed by Palmer Cosslett Putnam and manufactured by the S Morgan Smith Company The 1 25 MW turbine operated for 1100 hours before a blade failed at a known weak point which had not been reinforced due to wartime material shortages It would be the largest wind turbine ever built until 1979 3 Contents 1 Description 2 Origins 3 Construction 4 Operation and failures 5 Aftermath 6 See also 7 Notes 8 Further reading 9 External linksDescription editThe turbine had two blades 175 feet 53 m in diameter on the down wind side of a 120 foot 37 m foot steel lattice tower Each blade was approximately 8 feet 2 4 m wide and 66 feet 20 m long and weighed eight tons The blades were built on steel spars and covered with a stainless steel skin The blade spars were hinged at their root attachment to the hub allowing them to assume a slight cone shape The generator was a 1250 kva 600 RPM synchronous generator made by General Electric producing 2 400 V at 60 cycles The actual generation of this generator would be something around 1MW allowing for a power factor of less than 1 The generator and rotor hub were mounted on a pintle beam which allowed the rotor to capture wind from varying directions The pitch of the blades was controlled by hydraulic cylinders to maintain constant speed 4 Origins editPalmer Putnam became interested in production of electric power from wind after observing high winds at Cape Cod Putnam was aware of the Balaklava 100 kW turbine and desired to improve on its performance 5 By 1937 he had enlisted General Electric and Central Vermont Public Service General Electric provided a generator and Central Vermont Public Services Corporation was interested in an energy supply that could displace purchased power for meeting peak loads 6 Only 23 months elapsed between first discussions and production of power 7 Palmer concluded that the most promising concept was a two bladed propeller driving a synchronous AC generator He developed a preliminary design and cost estimates Dr Vannevar Bush Dean of Engineering at MIT reacted favorably when shown these calculations in 1937 Bush introduced Putnam to a vice president of General Electric Company Mr T Knight From this point on Putnam was able to enlist the services of some very talented people which included Theodore von Karman a world famous authority on aerodynamics to assist in the design parametric studies cost analyses site selection and determination of wind characteristics In 1939 the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology GALCIT was approached by Palmer C Putnam to design the turbine Theodore von Karman had William Rees Sears and W Duncan Rannie carry out the aerodynamic design 8 Unfortunately Rannie s analytical findings regarding the stability of the giant windmill were not incorporated in the prototype that was built and tested on the mountain 9 Putnam obtained the financial and technical backing of the S Morgan Smith Company of York Pennsylvania The Smith Company manufactured hydroelectric hydraulic turbines Since the number of feasible sites for hydroelectric development was felt to be declining the Smith company sought diversification into a new but related product line The S Morgan Smith Co agreed to take on the project as general contractor and financed construction of a pilot turbine Construction editThe site chosen for the prototype turbine was a previously unnamed 2 000 foot 610 m elevation named Grandpa s Knob this mountain was not so high as to have excessive ice build up but had high wind speeds Access to the site required construction of a road with 12 to 15 grade Due to the impending entry of the United States into World War II some of the fundamental research and testing process was skipped so that major components could be made before wartime material shortages occurred Operation and failures editNo load testing of the unit began in August 1941 to verify mechanical operation of the turbine and the blade control system The generator was first synchronized to the local electrical grid on the evening of October 19 1941 and tested under load varying from zero to 700 kW The unit operated for about 1000 hours between startup and February 1943 when a shaft bearing failed Due to wartime material priorities the bearing was not replaced until March 3 1945 when the unit achieved another three weeks of operation In the early morning of March 26 1945 the operator on duty in the nacelle of the turbine was thrown down by vibrations He stopped the turbine On investigation it was found one turbine blade had broken off and fallen about 750 feet 230 m away The blade had failed at a previously repaired weak point in the spar due to wartime shortages it had been impractical to complete a full repair and reinforcement of the blade root 6 Aftermath editA study completed in 1945 suggested that a block of six turbines similar to the prototype producing 9 MW could be installed in Vermont for around US 190 per kilowatt However the economic value to the power utility was only 125 per kilowatt and the wind turbine was not considered economically viable by a factor of 1 5 10 Although the S Morgan Smith company had spent more than US 1 25 million on the prototype turbine entirely private funding it concluded that there was insufficient prospect for profit on further development Repairs were never done after the March 1945 failure The prototype turbine was dismantled in 1946 leaving only concrete footings and a marker plaque at the site today In the introduction to Putnam s book Vannevar Bush stated that the project achieved proof of the concept of synchronous generation of wind power and projected future commercial use of wind generated electricity 6 See also editHistory of wind powerNotes edit National Geodetic Survey datasheet for GRANDPAS KNOB WIND TURBINE horizontal control station adjusted May 1998 accessed June 2013 search for PID OD1352 and check the box for Include Destroyed Marks The History and State of the Art of Variable Speed wind turbine Technology in WIND ENERGY 2003 P W Carlin A S Laxson and E B Muljadi A Pioneer is Vindicated in Kiplinger s Personal Finance Jan 1981 page 24 available at Google Books Daniel Behrman Solar energy the awakening science Taylor amp Francis 1979 ISBN 0 7100 8939 2 pages 227 230 Asmus Peter 2001 Reaping the wind how mechanical wizards visionaries and profiteers helped shape our energy future Washington D C Island Press p 45 ISBN 1 55963 707 2 OCLC 44794811 a b c History Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Archived from the original on 2011 06 04 Retrieved 2009 11 21 A Bold Effort in Vermont The 1941 Smith Putnam Wind Turbine C Sulzberger retrieved 2009 Nov 21 Smith Beauchamp E 1973 Smith Putnam Wind Turbine Experiment In Savino Joseph M ed Wind energy conversion systems workshop proceedings Washington D C June 11 13 1973 PDF National Science Foundation U S National Aeronautics and Space Administration p 6 W Duncan Rannie Memorial Tributes National Academy of Engineering Volume 4 The National Academies Press 1991 doi 10 17226 1760 ISBN 978 0 309 04349 6 Savino Joseph M August 29 30 1974 A Brief Summary of the Attempts to Develop Large Wind Electric Generating Systems in the U S PDF Report Vol NASA TM X 71605 Erich Hau Wind turbines fundamentals technologies application economicsBirkhauser 2006 ISBN 3 540 24240 6 page 36Further reading editPutnam Palmer Cosslett 1948 Power From The Wind D Van Nostrand Company Righter Robert 1996 Wind energy in America a history Norman Okla University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 0 8061 2812 7 Harnessing the Wind September 1941 TIME magazine retrieved 2009 Nov 21 Engineering and Technology History Wiki Palmer Putnam s 1 5 MW Wind Turbine retrieved 2016 Jan 23External links editSmith Putnam Industrial Photos Wind Works org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smith Putnam wind turbine amp oldid 1153477739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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