26 January 2015

On/off shore wind power and load banks

The question of the usefulness of load banks in the wind power sector comes up regularly in the news. Indeed, during the creation – and maintenance – of an on or off shore wind farm, the issue of connection times to the national grid is a critical point. This connection can last from 6 months on on-shore projects to several years on off-shore projects.

eolien-offshore banc de charge location rentaload

In reality, the creation of an electrical substation by the manufacturer is not always simultaneous with the connection to the source substation of the network or even with its construction. Therefore, putting a wind turbine into “hibernation” can pose a risk to the equipment. Without voltage or heat, condensation develops in the mast and can affect the proper functioning of electrical equipment (alternator, controls, etc.). It is therefore appropriate or even mandatory to couple the wind turbine to a generator to power up the auxiliaries when the wind is not sufficient to generate a little activity. Testing of these auxiliaries is then possible or even recommended (compulsory in Spain, Germany and in the countries of Northern Europe) before connection. The load bench makes it possible to simulate a load (at least 30% of the capacity of the turbine) and to avoid the problems of premature wear on the one hand and on the other hand to test the various secondary equipment.

If the industrial wind turbine has a nominal power of 2MW, a load bank of 600kW will allow the tests to be carried out. It sometimes happens that capacities are necessary when the cosine phi of the equipment is between -1 and 0. On 6MW off-shore projects, a 2MW load bank with redundancy will be required.

Rentaload as a member of the Windforfuture cluster network offers rental of load banks for wind farm installation projects. With several experiences in the sector and partnerships with key market players, Rentaload technicians & engineers will find the test solution for your needs.

Do not hesitate to contact us if necessary: Contact Rentaload

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!