UpWind Solutions has signed a contract to install its Vortex Generator (VG) technology on the 67, 1.5 MW GE SLE wind turbines at the Armenia Mountain Wind Farm in Pennsylvania owned by AES.
An adhesive on the VGs and a blade study lets technicians install them accurately, servicing a turbine in a day.
UpWind says VGs are a cost effective upgrade that improves the cross flow on wind turbine blades, resulting in more efficient energy production for a given wind speed than that which comes from the original blade design without the Vortex Generators. The VG solution was developed in partnership with SMART BLADE and 3M to create a low cost and durable product with an easily repeatable installation process to reduce risk and WTG downtime. Developed together with Smart Blade GmbH, UpWind’s Blade Vortex Generators maximize the energy yield potential with maintained aerodynamic balance.
Vortex generators, designed for each blade geometry, improves their performance by energizing the flow around the blade and reducing flow separation. The performance of the entire turbine in terms of power, loads, and service life can be improved.
Studies by UpWind Solutions have found that VGs
- Increase AEP by 2 to 3%
- Reduce flow separation
- Reduce loads during volatile wind speeds
- Correct for leading edge degradation
UpWind Solutions
www.upwindsolutions.com
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