Germany: Winergy to Exhibit HybridDrive at Husum WindEnergy

Winergy will exhibit its Fuhrlaender-3MW-HybridDrive at Husum WindEnergy 2012. Key characteristics include the very compact design as well as the high energy conversion efficiency of more than 96%.

The concept study presented at Hanover Trade Fair in April 2011 generated a lot of interest and a very positive response. At Husum, Winergy will show a fully tested product, which will be connected to the grid by the end of this year.

The close cooperation between Winergy, W2E (Wind to Energy), and Fuhrlaender during the development of the FL3000 wind turbine shortened the overall development time for the turbine as well as the HybridDrive.

Winergy has been the global market leader for drive train components and systems in wind turbines for more than 30 years. The system competence has been incorporated in the integrated drive train, i.e. expert knowledge both in mechanical as well as electrical components.

The HybridDrive uses individual components that have been used in wind turbine applications for many years and won over customers as a result of the highest degree of reliability. These components have now been integrated into one system.

Winergy invested in a new electrical system test bench to run system-specific test runs in parallel to development. The first step involved testing each individual component, and in the second step, the efficiency of the complete HybridDrive was verified.

The convincing test results show a system energy conversion efficiency of more than 96%. The individual component tests even confirmed an energy conversion efficiency of approximately 98% for each component.

The weight of the HybridDrive with a nominal torque of 2,550kNm and a power rating of 3MW is 34 tons including the oil-lubrication system, and it is designed for turbines with a rotor diameter of 120 m. Reducing space and weight in the nacelle are key factors when selecting a wind turbine drive train.

Further, when compared to today’s direct drives, the HybridDrive offers a higher system energy conversion efficiency, which in turn means a higher annual energy yield. Another key feature is its lower dependence on permanent magnets and their volatile pricing. This improves the long-term planning options when it comes to purchasing materials.

The HybridDrive has been designed as a modular system, which allows the permanent magnet generator to be replaced by an electrically excited synchronous generator. This technical option is currently under development.

Independent of the generator type of choice, the technical basis allows HybridDrives to be designed and built in a power range between 3 and 8MW and therefore offers an attractive alternative for offshore applications when considering the factors mentioned above.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, August 3, 2012; Image: Winergy