Siemens Showcases New Gearless Direct Drive Wind Generator (Germany)

The Siemens Drive Technologies Division is showcasing Direct Drive Wind, its new gearless wind generator, at the Husum WindEnergy 2012 trade fair. Comprised of individual, preassembled generator segments, it is able to offer a high degree of flexibility in the implementation of a wide range of turbine solutions and system concepts.

The generator, designed as a multi-pole, permanent magnet synchronous machine, is characterized by a high level of reliability and is thus particularly suitable for operation under rough conditions and in isolated locations. The modular platform concept features standardized components and a high level of mechanical integration, resulting in simplified logistics and installation and enabling greater levels of efficiency to be achieved.

The generation of energy with wind power plants has to be extremely efficient, economically viable and reliable, even under tough conditions. At this year’s Husum WindEnergy trade fair, Siemens will present a new gearless wind generator capable of meeting these requirements while also offering a high degree of flexibility – the Direct Drive Wind.

Based on a modular technology platform, the generator is not manufactured as a single unit, but is instead put together from preassembled segments. This enables extremely versatile realization of the most varied plant designs with a selection of different bearing concepts, voltage levels and cooling methods from a modular component range. Both internal and external rotor concepts are possible, and outputs of up to 10 MW can be attained.

This modular component approach also vastly simplifies the assembly and logistics associated with the new Siemens generator, meaning that customized generator solutions can be installed in particular turbines from a range of individual segments, either during pre-assembly or directly at the installation location itself.

Since the generator does not have to be transported as a whole, the organization of logistics operations is very simple. During the final assembly of the generator, individual segments are arranged side by side on the central bearing unit and then bolted to neighboring segments until the ring is closed. Neither final assembly nor the transport of the mounted generator pairs are affected by magnetic forces.

In order to produce electricity from wind economically, generators must provide maximum energy yields as reliably as possible. The Direct Drive Wind is able to achieve a high level of efficiency. On the one hand, this is due to the integrated design, which obviates the need for a dedicated generator bearing and thus contributes to reducing losses generated by bearing frictions.

On the other hand, the high level of efficiency results from the elimination of excitation and gear losses. The reduction of complexity and the lack of excitation equipment such as slip rings also facilitate excellent reliability with minimal maintenance requirements. This proves itself to be a considerable advantage, particularly with regard to the extensive repair logistics on offshore wind farms.

With the Norwegian wind turbine manufacturer Blaaster Wind Technologies, Siemens has both a pilot customer and a development partner able to look back on numerous years of experience in the wind energy market at its side.

The first joint prototype of the Direct Drive Wind turbine from Blaaster including the integrated fully segmented wind generator from Siemens Industry, was installed in summer 2012 in Valsneset, Norway.

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Press release, September 20, 2012; Image: Siemens