Vestas new dynamometer may have the largest capacity in the wind industry, 20 MW. The 42-m long test machine will first test the company’s 8MW drivetrain, also the largest in the wind industry.
The largest and most powerful dynamometer in the wind industry has started operation at Vestas’ global testing center in Aarhus, Denmark. The 20-MW dyno is capable of testing the full nacelle of the company’s V164-8.0 MW turbine, ideally validating its performance and reliability over a simulated 25 years of offshore work. The controlled environment testing is to reproduce the harsh wind conditions in the North Sea.
The test bench, as Vestas call it, stretches 42-m long and 9-m wide, and sits on a 50-m deep, 700-ton foundation. Motors powering the bench can produce 20 MW, about 26,820-brake horsepower, and exerts up to a 18 MN-m.
The drivetrain, including the gearbox, main shaft, generator – even the blade – are all set up on test benches at Vestas facilities. The company says it will commence a rigorous testing program with test protocols to stress the components and systems to validate performance, reliability, and ultimately assess the lifetime of the turbine.
A worker inspects a blade destine for Vestas’ 8 MW turbine.
“The V164-8.0 MW will be a game changer in the offshore wind market,” says Vestas CTO Anders Vedel. “Therefore Vestas has invested in testing facilities to ensure the turbine performs for a quarter century in challenging conditions.” The company says the test regime is based on experience and data from its more than 25,000 turbines. WPE
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