Motorists who drive on the A6 between Lelystad and Urk may have already seen it. Thick black cables were tied around the masts of the new wind turbines in the IJsselmeer during construction. They are called ‘vortex killers’, but what are they for?
24 islands have been constructed in the water between Lelystad and the Ketelbrug. The windmills outside the dykes will be placed on top of this. The cylindrical mast parts of the mill are transported upright via the water to the islands, but then catch a lot of wind. “Due to the round shape of the mast, the wind revolves around it,” explains Stephan de Clerck. He is director of SwifterwinT, which is co-client for the installation of the turbines.
During transport and construction, the rotating wind causes a certain vibration that causes the mast to swing back and forth. This movement can get stronger and stronger. “The mast then enters its own frequency.” That has to do with the construction. The result may be that a mast section falls over during transport. Mast parts that are mounted on top of each other can also snap.
The vortex killers are tubes that break the spinning wind. That is why they are attached around the mast sections. They are no longer needed after the house with the generator and the blades have been assembled. “Due to the heavy weight, the mast is much more difficult to move,” says de Clerck. The wind has no influence on that anymore.
2023-07-03 20:00:19
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