The new test centre in Brande incorporates test stands for major components including generators, main bearings and complete nacelles. Another centre in Aalborg features seven test stands which are capable of performing full scale rotor blade tests including for the world’s largest operative rotor blade measuring 75 meters in length. The two centres combined essentially form the world’s largest wind turbine test facility.
“Our investments in testing today will result in savings for our customers tomorrow” said Felix Ferlemann, CEO of Siemens Wind Power Division at Siemens Energy. “With our extensive tests of all major components of a wind turbine we can significantly reduce the risk of technical issues in the field. Our continued commitment to R&D and testing enables us to deliver wind turbines that both the most innovative and the most reliable at the same time.”
The facilities including indoor testing facilities of more than 27,000 square meters and the nacelle test stands in Brande are among the most advanced in the industry capable of testing Siemens D6 direct drive platform, the company’s largest current wind turbine, with a 6MW rated capacity, and is also prepared to test even larger turbines. The Aalborg facilities are able to test Siemens 75 meter long B75 blade, the largest turbine blade in operation, as well as larger blades as and when they are developed.
Siemens can now perform Highly Accelerated Lifetime Tests (HALT) on all major components of its direct drive and geared wind turbine platforms. The HALT testing can last up to six months in which prototypes are exposed to much higher loads than they would normally experience over the course of their full lifetime in the field.
“In HALT tests, we compress the biggest loads over a short time, as they affect the turbine the most”, Felix Ferlemann added. “During the HALT test of blades, for example, full scale prototypes are oscillated at larger deflections than they would ever experience on site for 2 million cycles vertically and then for another 2 million cycles horizontally.”
2013 marks the 25th anniversary of Siemens Wind Power’s Test and Measurement Department which was the first such department to be developed in the sector in 1988.
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