Wind Power Applications

 

The Windera technology is applicable to both old and new wind turbine generator designs. This includes the older class of sub-MW wind turbines deployed in the early 1980's and 1990's as well as the newer and larger class of multi-MW onshore and offshore wind turbines.

 

Windera Re-Power: Energizing Aging Wind Farms

Currently owners of the older sub-MW class of wind turbines must continuously recondition or replace aging generators and gearboxes in order to maintain their wind turbines. This involves shutting down the wind turbine for an extended period of time and, with crane services, removing the wind turbine’s generator, gearbox, and other machinery to be serviced or replaced. This costly and time-consuming process extends the service life of the wind turbine by approximately four-to-five years, at which time the process must be repeated.

Windera offers windfarm owners a highly effective third option, which reduces windfarm owners’ growing operations and maintenance costs, extends their generators’ service life by up to fifteen years, and increases their revenue generating potential by 25% or more!

 

A Gearbox Loses 30-40% Efficiency through Friction

The Windera generator is a direct-drive, variable-speed generator, which are two highly important characteristics that substantially change the windfarm owner’s economics. The direct-drive solution eliminates the need for a gearbox, which is one of the most expensive components within the wind turbine to maintain and repair. Second, the gearbox causes energy losses as it transfers the mechanical energy from the wind turbine blades to the generator. By eliminating the gearbox, windfarm owners can produce more electricity and spend less on maintenance and repairs.

The variable-speed characteristic allows the Windera generator to produce electricity across a broader range of wind speeds as compared to conventional wind turbines of the same class. More electricity equals greater profit. As a result of these capabilities, the Windera solution is far more than a simple “replacement” or "reconditioned" solution. In short, the Windera Power Solution generates more electricity and higher revenues at higher efficiencies over a longer period of time and at lower wind speeds than existing wind turbines and repair options.

 

Increase Power Output through Efficiency

The production of wind energy is calculated based upon the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) a wind turbine produces over the year. Wind turbine revenues are determined by multiplying the total number of kilowatt-hours produced by a price per kilowatt-hour. Overall windfarm profitability is calculated by subtracting operating costs and overhead such as maintenance and repair of the wind turbines from wind turbine revenues.

 

Saleable Power at Any RPM

The number of kilowatt-hours a wind turbine generates is primarily determined by the average daily wind speed of where the wind turbine is located. An interesting fact about wind energy is that for up to 1/3 of the year, today’s wind turbines produce very little usable electricity because the wind speed is near or below their start-up or “cut-in” speeds and is considerably lower than their rated wind speed where they are the most efficient. As an example, many of the older class of wind turbines do not start producing usable electricity until wind speeds reach 10 mph. In many wind turbine areas wind speeds remain below this level for as much as 1/3 of the year! This means that these turbines potentially only produce usable electricity for two thirds of the year!

In contrast, the Windera generator will begin producing usable electricity as soon as the wind is capable of rotating the wind turbine blades. Windera’s advanced design enables power generation at lower wind speeds as compared to conventional wind turbine generators and as a result can increase power production and windfarm revenues up to 25% or greater!