Overview
Twice a year we carry out a full service on what is the world’s largest free rotating wind cowl. The cowl rotates away from the prevailing wind to allow warm air to escape from the Parliament Debating Chamber below via a throat mounted damper at the base of the cowl. tThe damper opens and closes depending on temperature and CO2 levels to maintain a comfortable environment during full capacity.
Mounted beneath the damper is a large mirror cone that can be lowered into the building to control natural light levels.
The Problem
The wind cowl rotates at low wind speeds to changes in wind direction. Due to the costal location on Cardiff Bay the cowl experiences extreme wind speeds and saltwater conditions that cause corrosions and compromises the low-speed rotation of the cowl unless routinely serviced.
The Solution
Each service visit involves stripping down the bearing components, cleaning and lubricating all moving parts and setting the cowl for optimum rotation under low wind speeds. The internal quadrant damper is also a structural work platform when closed. The unit is opened and closed from the BMS system; we then set the correct opening speed and lubricate the linear actuators. The complete external structure is checked for signs of corrosion and stress cracks / signs of fracture as would be done with an aircraft service.
