Boulder Wind Power’s power converter engineering and design team next to the first full-scale prototype converter module that is currently in test with the full-scale 3.0MW proof-of-concept generator. (Left to right: Daryl Frost, Don Hanff, Cisco Oyague, Sachi Madappa, Todd Baxendale, Tim Sasseen, Swarnab Banerjee, and Prateek Pandey)
Boulder Wind Power (BWP) says the latest test results incorporating its proprietary power converter technology at full scale demonstrated an unmatched level of power quality for wind power applications. The converter design reduces damaging voltage stresses while improving the quality of the voltage and current waveforms at competitive industry costs. This unmatched level of performance in the power conversion system lets developer BWP fully leverage the benefits of its breakthrough air-core generator design.
“Performance improvements in the converter system have a direct impact on the generator design requirements — from the insulation system requirements, to the efficiency and cooling system requirements, to the grade of magnetics,” explained BWP’s Vice President of Engineering Jim Smith. “Our innovative power conversion brings a new level of value to the wind industry as it increases system performance to meet the requirements of our air-core generator and reduces system cost.” Smith also says the design is serviceable in the field, allowing simple and easy access to the equipment that commonly requires more frequent service.
The system is also modular and highly reconfigurable, enabling the same basic hardware and software to serve a variety of wind turbine power ratings. These features reduce spare-parts inventory requirements and enable kitting of upgrades that extend the life of the units as the suppliers revise their offerings to keep pace with technology developments in their fields. All of these features drive the cost of ownership down, which was the primary design objective.
BWP’s Principal Power Systems Engineer, Swarnab Banerjee added, “The BWP converter system uses a simple and cost-effective air-cooling concept that further improves system efficiency, and achieves this in a smaller and lighter package compared to the state-of-the-art liquid-cooled concepts that have become popular for wind power applications. This design does more with less.” Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Sandy Butterfield added, “When we founded this company in 2009, we immediately realized the opportunity that an air core generator presented from a systems engineering perspective. We then committed to developing this power converter solution that would enable Boulder Wind Power to break through the limitations of conventional approaches and establish a new paradigm for cost, performance, and reliability in the wind industry.”
Boulder Wind Power
www.boulderwindpower.com
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