It took two engineers from Availon North America a matter of hours to repair and bring on-line a Vestas V27 225-kW wind turbine that belongs to the Story County Medical Center in Nevada, Iowa. The turbine was commissioned at the end of 1994 but stopped working in April 2011 when the power supply for the…
Better Bearings for Wind Turbine Reliability
Replacing failed bearings in wind-power equipment is no easy task. But after 20 years of concentrated effort, bearing manufacturers have devised designs that carry loads that fluctuate with wind gusts and work well in electric fields around generators. Viewers of this Webcast will hear presenters discuss the problems with bearing that shorten their life and…
Detecting Ice on Wind-turbine Blades
Nick Harper Applications Manager Blade Sensing Systems Moog Inc. www.Moog.com Cold weather presents special problems for wind turbines. Inside the nacelle, low-viscosity lubricants keep the gearbox turning and enclosure seals to keep moisture and ice off electronic components. But outside the nacelle, things are different. Ice easily forms on turbine blades possibly adding hundreds…
Wind Turbine Reliability – The Importance of Highly Reliable Pitch Control and Blade Sensing Systems
In this 40 minute webinar, learn how two common hazards can hamper a wind turbine’s production. Wind-turbine owners and operators may experience a significant reduction of generated power, reducing overall turbine efficiency, if they don’t take into account: Blade Icing Failed Slip Rings Issues Increased Reliability In this free webinar, we explore how Moog Blade…
Wind Wakes May Spill Their Secrets
Wind turbine wakes produce invisible ripples that can affect the atmosphere and influence downstream units. Recent computer research into turbine spacing indicates about 15 rotor diameters are sufficient to dissipate wake effects and maintain the output of downwind machines. Because more detail is needed, researchers have launched a study to make the ripples visible to…
What types of metals are used in wind turbines?
The most used metal in a wind turbine is steel in the tower and other components. But a few more recent material ideas deserve mention. For instance, one solution to the climbing cost of all copper wire is in copper-clad steel. It is said to be reliable, cost effective, and can provide the wind industry…
Trends in wind power electrical components
Wind turbines have been maintenance nightmares for many operators over the past few years. This is to be expected when the rush to install wind turbines has avoided the usual developmental learning curve, on which new technologies mature by trial and error. Instead, many turbine designs have, until very recently, been taken from other industries…
A 3-MW drivetrain all in one package
A recent wind-turbine drive combines a two-stage gearbox, coupling, and permanent-magnet generator into one compact package. One design goal for the HybridDrive from manufacturer Winergy (winergy-ag.com) is to reduce drivetrain size. A direct connection between gearbox and generator allows shortening the drivetrain by about 35% and nearly eleminating alignment tasks. The company says it demonstrates…
Mountain top turbine includes a viewing deck
Not many tourists would be willing or able to climb a 60-m ladder just to pop the top hatch of a turbine nacelle for a stunning view. Thanks to an unusual turbine variation built on Grouse Mountain near Vancouver, BC, they won’t have to. The turbine, The Eye of the Wind, includes an elevator and…
Finding and fixing drivetrain problems
Ashley Crowther, VP Engineering, Wind Romax U.S. A case study shows how condition-monitoring data and engineering analysis can identify the root cause of trouble in wind-turbine drivetrains, and then give design teams information to solve the problems. Maintaining profitability is one of the biggest challenges facing offshore wind-farm operators and owners. Innovative technology and logistics…
Single inlet centrifugal fans cool things down
A manufacturer of industrial fans offers one for cooling generators and switchboards in the wind industry. Rosenberg’s ERAE and ERAD series includes forward-curved radial centrifugal AC fans that deliver up to 4,000 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air movement in a space-saving, single-inlet design. Fan sizes are available from 5.2 in. to 15.7 in.…
Timken wins $26 million wind-energy contract
The Timken Company says it has received a contract worth $26 million to supply wind turbine products and services to China’s Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Company. The contract will support more than 1,500 MW of new wind power capacity. Timken will contribute to Goldwind’s expansion in the industry, with Timken providing engineering support, advanced…
Modernizing the Grid
Jon E. Jipping, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ITC Holdings, itcholdings.com To meet the nation’s future energy needs, America must develop a high-voltage transmission backbone. In the not-too-distant future, millions of Americans will begin their days by unplugging their fully charged electric vehicles and driving to work. Imagine that the nation has greatly…
Why do wind turbine transformers fail so often?
Tom Steeber, Vice President, Pacific Crest Transformers, Medford, Oregon, pacificcresttrans.com Using conventional off-the-shelf distribution transformers to cut costs is downright foolish. The unusual duty cycle of wind energy calls for an updated design. A rush to install wind turbines has outstripped the usual developmental learning curve, one in which new technologies mature by trial and…
Nordic Windpower’s N1000 1-MW turbine
Most wind turbine costs are headed in the wrong direction. A few years ago, according to one industry insider, a typical U.S. turbine installed cost $1.4 million/MW and a goal was to bring that figure down to $1 million. But costs are now closer to $2 million/MW for those onshore, and reportedly $3 to $4…
Less maintenance for new wind turbine
Siemans Energy announced today the new SWT-3.0.101 with a rated power of 3 megawatts (MW) offers innovation through a new direct drive concept introducing a permanent magnet generator. With half the parts of a conventional geared wind turbine, and much less than half the number of moving parts, the new wind turbine will require less…