
The Nordex N150/6000 is rated for 6 mw and offshore duty.
Development of the Nordex N150/6000 offshore turbine is progressing to plan, says the company. Nordex has selected technology-service provider TÜV Nord to certify the turbine. Certification is required before the power can be operated offshore, and it serves as proof of product quality to buyers. The first step in type certification is a design inspection. This involves the experts at TÜV Nord critically reviewing parameters calculated by Nordex engineers. Some components will undergo additional testing.
This is followed by a performance test next year after installing the prototype at the offshore test centre in Osterild, Denmark. On the basis of measurements, the certifier determines whether the turbine is able to withstand stresses and produce its nameplate capacity.
A final part of certification involves production monitoring. Here, TÜV conducts inspections at Nordex and its component suppliers to satisfy itself that the products comply with the designs and quality requirements.
“This is a demanding job,” says TÜV Nord project manager Christian Hering. “With a capacity of six megawatts and a rotor diameter of 150 metres, the turbine is one of the largest and most efficient offshore wind power systems. That means that we will be inspecting large components and reviewing parts designed for the turbine.”
Nordex is stepping up its activities in the offshore market. For instance, the company has acquired a roughly 40% stake in a project company for the development of the “Arcardis Ost 1” wind farm. The site, scheduled to go in 2014, is located within the 12 mile zone of the German part of the Baltic Sea, 17 km north-east of Rügen.
A few other turbine features include:
- Direct drive (PM generator) for maximum reliability
- Low logistic and operating costs thanks to a modular, service-friendly configuration
- Specific weight of the tower head has been kept low thanks to a new kind of direct drive. This impacts the costs and loads to which the entire system is exposed.
- A full power converter
- Modular system design, assembly, and servicing at sea are possible with current systems
- If necessary, components will be replaced simply, quickly, and without excess dismantling.
- Condition monitoring facilitates preemptive maintenance of critical parts.
- A helicopter platform is optional.
Experts think the offshore market will enter its first phase of maturity from 2015 onwards with annual sales of more than five gigawatts.
Nordex
www.nordex-online.com
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects