The Switch, a Finland-based supplier of permanent-magnet generator (PMG) and full-power converter (FPC) packages, says its first 5 MW, high-speed drive trains installed in the field in China for CSIC Haizhuang Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd a Chinese wind power equipment manufacturer, are now successfully operating. The turbines operate with a max output at 5 MW, the highest power rate so far for The Switch.
The new Haizhuang PMG5000 generators and FPC5000 converters were designed for Haizhuang by integrating the latest technology and The Switch’s 6 GW wind power field experience. The optimized drive trains, call The Switch Drives, represent the highest power range the company has commissioned to date. During testing, the generators and converters fulfilled all performance requirements. The converter is installed inside the tower’s base floor, about 12m above sea level. The generator is, of course, installed in the nacelle.
Compared with a traditional double-fed induction generator (DFIG) drive train, The Switch PMG offers a higher annual energy production (AEP) rate and lower operations and maintenance costs. This makes it a more ideal solution for offshore use, where maintenance costs are higher than with onshore applications.
The Switch FPCs also comply with the latest international grid-code requirements, even the latest Chinese regulations. They ensure low flicker, minimum electrical noise emission, and a THD of <1.5%, guaranteeing high power quality is fed into the grid.
In total, two Switch Drive prototypes are now installed in turbines situated in tidelands, which proved challenging due to fluctuating tides.
At high tide, the site is covered with water, making the installation exactly like an offshore site. Installation teams could then only move to the turbine by boat. When the tide was low, teams used small tractor-like vehicles to access the site. When the water was not high enough for a boat or low enough for the vehicles, the teams simply had to wait. Tide levels at the site reach peaks twice each day. A highest peak-tide level happens only once a month.
According to Mr. Tao Youchuan, Vice President of Haizhuang Windpower, the company already has two customers who are interested in this turbine for offshore use. The Switch is planning for zero-series production this year.
“The Switch Drive and PMG technology represent an obvious choice for reliable offshore turbines, as they offer higher energy output, even at partial loads,” says The Switch CEO and President Jukka-Pekka Mäkinen.
The Switch
www.theswitch.com
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