|
Latest Issue
 |
- Category: Articles
Dynamic Load Simulation of Multi-Megawatt Wind Turbine Gearboxes
Today’s wind turbine market, characterised by continuous up-scaling into the multi-megawatt class, is calling for reliability as the number one requirement. Cascading down this requirement to each component manufacturer in the supply chain, the gearbox manufacturer’s challenge is to deliver a drive system, at a high quality level, that will operate in a highly dynamic environment. Reliable drive train design requires good understanding of the gear unit and its dynamic behaviour, particularly in the operational conditions experienced in a wind turbine. Component design, based on mechanical design loads in combination with (partial) safety factors, as described in current industry standards is not (yet) covering all requirements. There is further room for improvement based on validated and advanced simulation methods that can support the gearbox designer in developing a reliable drive system tailored to the wind turbine manufacturer’s current and future needs.
By Sonja Goris, Hansen Transmissions, Belgium .
Today’s wind turbine market, characterised by continuous up-scaling into the multi-megawatt class, is calling for reliability as the number one requirement. Cascading down this requirement to each component manufacturer in the supply chain, the gearbox manufacturer’s challenge is to deliver a drive system, at a high quality level, that will operate in a highly dynamic environment. Reliable drive train design requires good understanding of the gear unit and its dynamic behaviour, particularly in the operational conditions experienced in a wind turbine. Component design, based on mechanical design loads in combination with (partial) safety factors, as described in current industry standards is not (yet) covering all requirements. There is further room for improvement based on validated and advanced simulation methods that can support the gearbox designer in developing a reliable drive system tailored to the wind turbine manufacturer’s current and future needs.By Sonja Goris, Hansen Transmissions, Belgium .
- Category: Articles
Invention Changes the World Wind Map
At a time when an improvement in efficiency from a large wind turbine of 1–2% is highly significant, a new company called Leviathan Energy has demonstrated that it can improve the power output of large wind turbines by over 40%, and at times of slow wind by over 100%.
By Dr Daniel Farb, CEO, Leviathan Energy, Inc, USA .
At a time when an improvement in efficiency from a large wind turbine of 1–2% is highly significant, a new company called Leviathan Energy has demonstrated that it can improve the power output of large wind turbines by over 40%, and at times of slow wind by over 100%.By Dr Daniel Farb, CEO, Leviathan Energy, Inc, USA .
- Category: Articles
Co-Existence Between Radars and Turbines Offshore
In Sweden the Swedish Armed Forces take every wind power project under consideration, and give their opinion about it. In particular, planned offshore wind power plants present some significant challenges. How can co-existence between radars and wind power plants be ensured? One significant problem is the radar shadow behind the turbines. The turbines can ‘conceal’ a target that otherwise should have been detected by the radar. One can illustrate the situation by shining a light on an obstacle. There will be a shadow behind the obstacle. Flight tests have been carried out to investigate the reality of the shadow effect, and a study has been done to find possible solutions that will enable radars and wind turbines to co-exist safely.
By Kjell-Åke Eriksson, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), Sweden .
In Sweden the Swedish Armed Forces take every wind power project under consideration, and give their opinion about it. In particular, planned offshore wind power plants present some significant challenges. How can co-existence between radars and wind power plants be ensured? One significant problem is the radar shadow behind the turbines. The turbines can ‘conceal’ a target that otherwise should have been detected by the radar. One can illustrate the situation by shining a light on an obstacle. There will be a shadow behind the obstacle. Flight tests have been carried out to investigate the reality of the shadow effect, and a study has been done to find possible solutions that will enable radars and wind turbines to co-exist safely.By Kjell-Åke Eriksson, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), Sweden .
- Category: Articles
The Marginal Cost to Automate the Wind Farm Grid-Intertie Substation
We have many sayings in the USA that come from our 17th century European roots. One of the sayings still heard today is: ‘penny-wise and pound-foolish’. We see a clear circumstance in which to use this old proverb in wind farm automation. Nearly all utility-scale wind farm management systems have state-of-the-art automatically controlled wind turbines, but at the electric grid-intertie, the substation is very often managed manually. It is true that some substations may have remote control capabilities, but they are still completely manually controlled, and require operator intervention for restoration. The real irony is that the cost of implementing a full auto-restoration scheme at a modern substation, with intelligent electronic protection devices, is likely to be only the lost revenue of one extended substation outage – truly ‘penny-wise and pound-foolish’ if not implemented.
By Larry D. Elliott PE, and Lawrence C. Gross, Jr PE, Relay Application Innovation Inc., USA .
We have many sayings in the USA that come from our 17th century European roots. One of the sayings still heard today is: ‘penny-wise and pound-foolish’. We see a clear circumstance in which to use this old proverb in wind farm automation. Nearly all utility-scale wind farm management systems have state-of-the-art automatically controlled wind turbines, but at the electric grid-intertie, the substation is very often managed manually. It is true that some substations may have remote control capabilities, but they are still completely manually controlled, and require operator intervention for restoration. The real irony is that the cost of implementing a full auto-restoration scheme at a modern substation, with intelligent electronic protection devices, is likely to be only the lost revenue of one extended substation outage – truly ‘penny-wise and pound-foolish’ if not implemented.
By Larry D. Elliott PE, and Lawrence C. Gross, Jr PE, Relay Application Innovation Inc., USA .
- Category: Articles
Characterising Wind Speed and Directional Shear with sodar Data
Remote sensing technology, such as Sonic Detection and Ranging (sodar), has made it practical to obtain accurate measurements of wind speed and direction at several heights across the swept area of a typical wind turbine rotor. However, obtaining a large number of values for wind speed and directional shear over an entire measurement campaign can result in an unwieldy amount of data and make it difficult to draw conclusions. This article describes a simple technique for plotting the frequency of shear occurrence in order to highlight site-to-site differences that would affect wind turbine performance and reliability.
By Niels LaWhite, Chief Scientist, Elizabeth Walls, Research Scientist and Kenneth Cohn, Founding Partner, Second Wind Inc., USA .
Remote sensing technology, such as Sonic Detection and Ranging (sodar), has made it practical to obtain accurate measurements of wind speed and direction at several heights across the swept area of a typical wind turbine rotor. However, obtaining a large number of values for wind speed and directional shear over an entire measurement campaign can result in an unwieldy amount of data and make it difficult to draw conclusions. This article describes a simple technique for plotting the frequency of shear occurrence in order to highlight site-to-site differences that would affect wind turbine performance and reliability.By Niels LaWhite, Chief Scientist, Elizabeth Walls, Research Scientist and Kenneth Cohn, Founding Partner, Second Wind Inc., USA .
- Category: Articles
Six Sigma Quality Methodology Utilised
Clipper Windpower installed its first production ‘Liberty’ turbines in mid-2007 and since that time hundreds of turbines have been assembled at project sites around the USA. However, a couple of ‘teething troubles’ cropped up with the blades, which are manufactured at Clipper’s Brazilian supplier. In 2007 Clipper identified a blade spar deficiency that required dozens of field reinforcements to assure a 20-year blade life. After small cracks appeared in the surface skin of several blades in 2008 the company engaged upon a scientific process to identify the root cause and fix hundreds of blades in the field. The procedure included an intricate curing process necessary to enable the fixes to take place in temperatures well below zero.
By Drew Robb, Robb Editorial, USA .
Clipper Windpower installed its first production ‘Liberty’ turbines in mid-2007 and since that time hundreds of turbines have been assembled at project sites around the USA. However, a couple of ‘teething troubles’ cropped up with the blades, which are manufactured at Clipper’s Brazilian supplier. In 2007 Clipper identified a blade spar deficiency that required dozens of field reinforcements to assure a 20-year blade life. After small cracks appeared in the surface skin of several blades in 2008 the company engaged upon a scientific process to identify the root cause and fix hundreds of blades in the field. The procedure included an intricate curing process necessary to enable the fixes to take place in temperatures well below zero.By Drew Robb, Robb Editorial, USA .
- Category: Articles
Foundation Work on the next Danish Offshore Wind Farm
In April 2009, offshore work started on the Rødsand 2 wind farm, in the south of Denmark. A concrete gravity-based foundation is to be used, giving a 30% price reduction when compared to current offshore monopile foundation systems used in the UK. This article describes the project and the current stage of the construction works.
By Jens H.M. Larsen, Grontmij | Carl Bro A/S, Denmark .
In April 2009, offshore work started on the Rødsand 2 wind farm, in the south of Denmark. A concrete gravity-based foundation is to be used, giving a 30% price reduction when compared to current offshore monopile foundation systems used in the UK. This article describes the project and the current stage of the construction works.By Jens H.M. Larsen, Grontmij | Carl Bro A/S, Denmark .
Stay informed with Windtech International! Sign up here for our free newsletters
| Turbine Shots
brought to you by
 |
 |
| #51 Senvion MM92 wind turbine installed in Serra do Caramulo, Portugal (courtesy Pedro Matos) |
| Every week on our website and in our email newsletter we want to show you that wind energy is more than just technology. We therefore invite you to send stunning pictures of wind turbines inspired by “light” (in the broadest sense of the word). After 52 submissions we will announce the winner of the year’s best picture! Email your photo to Include turbine model, location and name of photographer. (size of the published photo will be 336 px width x 280 px high). |
|
 Check our Instagram to see all published pictures |
Use of cookies
Windtech International wants to make your visit to our website as pleasant as possible. That is why we place cookies on your computer that remember your preferences. With anonymous information about your site use you also help us to improve the website. Of course we will ask for your permission first. Click Accept to use all functions of the Windtech International website.