Plastic potentiometer keeps wind generators quiet

Conductive plastic potentiometers a supplied by Variohm Components are playing an important role in lessening the effect which wind generators have upon the environment.

Electricity generated from windpower is playing an increasing role in the world economy.

In Germany, for instance, it now accounts for about 5% of all electricity generated.

Conductive plastic potentiometers a supplied by Variohm Components are playing an important role in lessening the effect which wind generators have upon the environment.

Wind generators have truly gigantic proportions.

If it is not to cause serious noise pollution as it produces its 600kW of electricity, the sails must meet the wind at the correct angle.

Each blade is fitted with a pitch control system which is independently adjustable but which also needs to be synchronised with the other two.

The pitch control system consists of a long life servomotor which doesn't require frequent servicing, a gearhead and a spring arrangement.

If the pitch control system is to work correctly, the angle of each sail must be continually measured and this is where the Model IPE6000 Conductive Plastic potentiometers are used.

These particular units are housed to IP65 and incorporate a 4 to 20mA current output the actual instantaneous value of which is directly proportional to the angle at which its associated sail is set.

This type of output is most appropriate for the application as it is largely insensitive to noise and is capable of working over long distances.

Wind generators are designed for a minimum service life of 20 years under all sorts of environmental conditions and this is where the IPE6000's really come into there own.

They offer a lifetime of over 100 million cycles, a linearity of 0.1%, a resolution/ repeatability of 0.007o and are virtually unaffected by variations in temperature and humidity.

Obviously this particular application is somewhat unusual and could be described as somewhat exotic but potentiometers of this type are used on many different applications ranging from machine control to aerospace and they come at a very attractive and competitive price.

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