DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has awarded ABB Switzerland with component certification for its latest generation main-frequency converter. The PCS6000 medium-voltage wind converter has been developed specifically for use in offshore wind turbines and is available for capacities up to 12-MW. The certificate was presented by Mike…
Navigant Research report: Drones for wind-turbine inspections expected to hit $6 billon by 2024
Editor’s note: According to a new report from Navigant Research, the cumulative global revenue for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sales and inspection services for wind turbines is expected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2024. Technicians have traditionally relied on visual inspections from the ground or up-turbine by use of ropes or cables. However, UAVs are now…
Senvion presents its highest yield onshore wind turbine
Senvion, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wind turbines, is presenting its highest yield onshore wind turbine for low-wind locations at HUSUM Wind. For the last 25 years HUSUM Wind has been the leading biennial trade fair for the wind industry, and the event is taking place now until September 18. The Senvion 3.4M140…
Nordex to unveil light-wind N131/3300 turbine
In a fitting move for “Husum Wind,” the wind industry exhibition taking place this week in Hamburg, Germany (September 15-18), Nordex SE will present its light-wind N131/3300 turbine. The N131/3300 is a new version of the N131/3000 from the Generation Delta range. With a rotor diameter of 131 meters and nominal output 10% higher than…
Moventas’ Exceed gearbox testing surpassed expectations
Moventas has set a new performance standard in the onshore 3-MW turbine gearbox class. Testing and verification procedures of the first prototypes of an Exceed high-torque platform gearbox have been completed, and the results are even better than estimated. Launched in August 2014, the Exceed is a 3 MW and up product platform with the…
Alaska-tuned turbines cut heating costs for remote villagers
By Jarrod Orszulak | Product Manager POSITAL FRABA Inc. About 50 miles south of Bethel, Alaska, and 50 miles north of the Bering Sea lies Tuntutuliak (locally referred to as Tunt), a tundra village of about 400 Yup’ik Eskimos. Most of the residents here survive off the land through subsistence hunting, fishing, and berry picking.…
Friendly fluids: Safe and sustainable transformer technology
By Mark Lashbrook | Senior Applications Engineer M&I Materials Wind turbine transformers pose a unique set of challenges to the designers and engineers who specify them. The transformers are typically of distribution size and rating, but do a job that differs from a standard distribution unit. The schematic Wind turbine grid connection shows a typical…
A new approach to blade repairs
By Louis C. Dorworth Division Manager-Direct Services Abaris Training Resources, Inc. As wind farms age and new turbines grow in height and blade size, the demand for maintenance and repair services is increasing at a rapid rate. Because of this, many new companies have emerged in recent years to meet the demands of wind farm…
How is condition monitoring changing in the wind industry?
Unscheduled maintenance and turbine downtime are costly issues in the wind industry. Condition monitoring systems, or CMS, have provided one answer to help detect damage or component failures in turbine machinery often before they become serious problems. While wind-farm owners once considered CMS as a nice advantage, these systems are now becoming a necessity…
Romax partnership with Inox hits 500th gearbox order
Romax, the design and engineering specialist, continues to demonstrate its commitment to maximizing sustainable energy yields across the wind energy industry. In partnership with Romax, wind turbine manufacturer Inox Wind has crossed its 500th order for its Romax-designed 2-MW turbine gearbox. Wind power in India, where Inox is based, now accounts for almost 10% of installed…
Slip rings: A few ideas for extending their life
Jesse Shearer | Design Engineer | United Equipment Accessories As the wind energy industry has grown over the last decade, so has turbine slip ring technology. Although these devices are small, their importance should not be undervalued. Wind turbines require reliable transmission of power and data signals from the nacelle to the control system for…
What regulations exist for fire protection in wind turbines?
The United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety, and Health Administration recommends the installation of fire detection and control in all wind turbines. However, this is only a suggestion and not yet mandated into law. “Certainly some municipalities in North America have instated bylaws requiring fire detection and control in industrial wind turbines,” said…
Saving time and costs with point-of-use resin heating
Mac Larsen | Director of Application Development | Graco Inc. Demand in the U.S. composites market is expected to grow to $10.3 billion by 2019 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%. Along with aerospace and automobiles, the industry can thank wind power for driving this upward trend. High-performance composites consist of carbon, Kevlar, or glass…
ACCIONA Windpower opens Brazil-based wind service center
ACCIONA Windpower the ACCIONA Group subsidiary that designs and manufactures wind turbines, has created a Wind Power Service Center in the city of Mossoró. It will service wind farms located in northeast Brazil, where the company has signed contracts for the supply of 264 turbines totaling 792 MW overall capacity. The center, located in one…
Making the case for wind-turbine fire detection and suppression systems
Scott Starr | Director of Marketing Firetrace International Fire provides the second highest risk of damage to wind turbines after blade failure. A fire can spark because of mechanical failure, electrical malfunction, or a lightning strike. These sparks can ignite flammable materials inside the nacelle such as resin, fiberglass, or insulation contaminated with oil deposits.…
Domed rotor holds promise of 3% more wind power
Some have likened it to a UFO stuck atop a utility tower and others simply call it “big nose.” Granted, it’s not your usual wind turbine but GE, the engineers behind a unique new design, are more concerned about efficiency than aesthetics. The design started out with a styrofoam ball and a toothpick when GE scientists…
Maximizing wind-farm ROI through blade protection and repair
Santhosh Chandrabalan | Development Leader | 3M Technical Business To maximize wind-farm efficiency and related investment returns, the wind industry is paying increasing attention to the wear and tear of turbine blades. From high winds and rain to damaging hail and salt spray, turbine blades face a wide variety of weather and environmental challenges. Exposure to these…
The WindBridge Advantage: Upcoming webinar on easy turbine anemometer replacement
The WindBridge is an innovative smart device configured to let newer technology sensors integrate seamlessly into an existing wind-turbine control platform — no matter the age, type, or communication characteristics of the controller or PLC. For this device, Nor-Cal Controls partnered with Lufft, manufacturer of the VENTUS ultrasonic wind sensor, to provide a turnkey wind-sensor…
New WindBridge signal converter teams up with the VENTUS ultrasonic wind sensor
Nor-Cal Controls Energy Solutions has released a new product that will reduce maintenance and costs for wind-project owners and operators. The WindBridge signal converter is an innovative smart device configured to allow newer technology sensors to integrate seamlessly into an existing wind-turbine control platform, no matter the age, type, or communication characteristics of the Controller/ PLC. Nor-Cal…
NREL and Statoil collaborate to make first multi-turbine floating offshore wind array
Editor’s Note: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is collaborating with Norway company, Statoil, for the development of what could be the world’s first multi-turbine floating offshore wind structure. The following article, written by Sheri Anstedt, provides more details and is reprinted with permission from the NREL. A recent study performed by the National Wind…