Can a windmill be clogged with dirt or anything?

Answer 1

Only the gears inside of a windmill can be clogged, not the sails themselves. A windmill is a machine, powered by the wind, that is used to convert the wind's energy into other useful forms, which is then used to do work. One use of a windmill is to use its power to grind wheat into flour, which can be then used to make bread. The way an windmill actually works though, is by capturing the kinetic energy of the wind to move its sails or blades (whatever it uses), which are connected to a drive shaft ( a central shaft that the connects the sails to the gears), which moves a series of gears that convert the wind's power into another form. Just like you could clog a pencil sharpener if there was too much gunk in it, the gears in a windmill or even a wind turbine could clog with any manner of items or objects, such as dirt, pieces of clothing, ice, or organic matter. Good upkeep is vital for the operation of an efficient windmill.