New GL Technical Note on Turbine Operation in Cold Climates (Germany)

As wind energy is being called to provide a greater share of the world’s energy burden, more turbines are operating in areas where temperature tests the machinery to its limits.

Wind turbines are usually designed to operate in a temperature range from –10°C to +40°C, but at some current installations temperatures can drop to -30°C or -40°C. To ensure that operators rely on turbine operation in cold climates GL Renewables Certification (GL) has issued an update to its technical note “Certification of Wind Turbines for Extreme Temperatures.”

Building on previous revisions and the knowledge gained through both project experience and cold chamber testing, and also taking into account the new GL Guideline for the Certification of Wind Turbines 2010, this is the fourth revision of the note since its introduction. GL first issued the note in 2005 and has been continually revising and updating it ever since, to reflect advances in technology and growing expertise gained through the continued testing of turbines in extreme temperatures, both in the field and in the lab.

The latest technical note provides information on load assumptions, safety and control systems, manuals, rotor blades, nacelle covers and spinners, machinery components, strength verification, building structures, and electrical installations.

A site is considered a cold climate site if minimum temperatures of below -20°C have been observed during long term measurements on an average of more than nine days a year, for a minimum of one hour. If a site fulfils these conditions then cold climate requirements should be considered in the design of the turbine.

GL Renewables Certification has a long history of working with turbines under such extremes of temperature, having certified several projects in sub-artic areas, including Rushlake Creek in Saskatchewan, Canada as well as the Chanarambie, Viking and Stoneray projects in Minnesota, USA. Furthermore, many components and wind turbines have been assessed successfully based on former editions of this Technical Note.

 About GL Renewables Certification

GL Renewables Certification, part of the GL Group, is a leading certification body primarily focussed on the certification of wind farms, wind turbines and their components. At the forefront of understanding in renewables technology, it is abreast of all the necessary standards and requirements and takes a harmonised approach in ensuring that these are met. Manufacturers, banks and insurers around the world rely on the state-of-the-art service provided by GL Renewables Certification.

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Source: gl-group, October 07, 2011