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.
“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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