LEITWIND recently announced that its new state of the art 4Q frequency converter, known as LeitDrive, was now to be installed across all of its wind turbine product range, after successful testing demonstrated the prototypes’ superior performance. LeitDrive is one of the most remarkable innovations resulting from LEITWIND’s continuous direct-drive technology research and development.
The decision to make LeitDrive a standard configuration in LEITWIND’s wind turbines follows the successful operation of five prototype units in Italy in the course of 2012. The first new 4Q frequency converters were installed in autumn 2012 in five of the LEITWIND LTW77 1.5 MW turbines in Montecatini, Val di Cecina Tuscany.
LeitDrive is a modular converter offering a power range from 250 kW up to 3.000 kW. In a typical 1.0 MW turbine, LEITWIND will install four 250 kW LeitDrive converters, each with independent electric circuits. This modular construction means higher availability and productivity since the turbine can continue to operate in the unlikely case of component failure of one converter. Each module is a fully functional unit including a grid and motor side inverter. The custom made, water-cooled power stack allows an extremely compact size of only 400 mm width per module. The simple and elaborate mechanical handling simplifies the service. LeitDrive operates quietly and sits smartly with the generator. The perfect interaction between the generator and the 4Q frequency converter leads to a better optimization of the wind turbine performance. Its compact and modular construction guarantees high efficiency and flexibility.
LeitDrive uses highly efficient, latest generation insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBT). “Due to the customized power stack the IGBT selection can focus on the application without compromise, while at the same time avoiding uneconomic over-dimensioning,” commented Günter Tschinkel, Head of Electrical Engineering.
In order to operate LeitDrive, no installation of cryptic service tools is needed. User access takes place simply by using the built-in web interface. The most common field busses are supported via extension cards. The control algorithm, optimized for LEITWIND’s own generators, ensures unrivalled efficiency rates.
LEITWIND
www.leitwind.com
Filed Under: Generators, News
