Static electricity can be a big problem for wind turbines. As the blades spin in adverse conditions like snow, static charge builds up quickly. Companies like Applied Philosophy have created systems to discharge this energy, and in this episode we touch on their SLPS for Gamesa blades. Check out their technology here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKvJZChjeec and listen in for a deep dive as we try to answer the question: does static electricity damage wind turbines?

Check out the companies we discuss during this podcast:Applied Philosophy - http://appliedphilo.com/slps.html

Siemens Gamesa - https://www.siemensgamesa.com/en-int

3:48 Why the Applied Philosophy SLPS is necessary
5:33 Static electricity why is it a big deal
8:47 How does a blade create static electricity
16:05 Static affects the blade dielectric and creates burn marks

Transcript:

EP5 Does Static Electricity Damage Wind Turbines?

00:00:08 - 00:05:08

Welcome back this is the Uptime Podcasts I'm your co-host Dan Blewett. I'm joined here remotely by lightning protection expert Allen Hall. Allen, How are you. Great Dan how are you doing? I'm good actually well. I had my My pride was damaged the other day but I made two separate trips to the grocery store to two separate grocery stores. I turned away both times. The North door turns your way the security. Do you know why? No mask. No mask. I didn't have a mask on. Yep. Is that is that the law of the land down in Washington Dc right now? I was asking myself that same question because I was like was I supposed to know this. I mean obviously I like walk it was a ten minute walk for the first one and then a farther walked to the next one later in the day. But I don't know how I know the official decree. It sounds like maybe it is. I don't know wanna be no one more tuned into social media the new so. I'm surprised that you didn't know that well I do follow Mayor Bowser here in DC. And they've been doing a really good job in instances are still pretty low here in DC. I appreciate that they're doing. I couldn't really mad like obviously I was irritated because I just like wasted a Twenty-five minute round trip beyond that. It's like you can't be mad at him like all right. I gotta go make a mask and then I made a mask and it was just terrible experiences. I went to the grocery store because I cut up a T. shirt. I duck taped the ends together of this fabric. And then throw it over my headband. And not stay up. I was like Oh this will work fine and did not work fine so I was just going to the grocery store struggling to keep this above my nose. The whole time and Just getting really frustrated by but I guess I see. We'll have you seen the little online. I think I saw it on Youtube about how to make your own mask with the two rubber bands and the paper towel. Yeah I gotta get in a grocery store. I buy rubber bands chicken before the mask thing. Here we go to the store and buy couple mask and put it in the mail and get it over to you so you can go to the grocery store or you're getting mail is mail person coming into the complex there or what. Yeah Yeah I actually got A. I got a new plant featured in the background of the of the video. A mail order plant mail order plant. It's one of those. I'm sure you've seen a good. Indoor plants called snake plants wide leaves and apparently abused them and they keep on going. But I'm taking great care of the little guy but a filter my air out a little bit you know have a companion. That's your corona virus filter.