A new design involving electrical generators for wind turbines may revolutionize the wind energy industry and bring down the price of wind energy, as well as improve reliability of wind turbines. The proposed new design comes from Scottish scientists and engineers, namely Markus Mueller and Alasdair McDonald, from the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Energy Systems.
The new design does away with the gearbox, the most sensitive part of a wind turbine assembly, not particularly resistant when it comes to dealing with abrupt wind speed changes – an frequent occurence, especially in offshore wind conditions. Sudden increases in wind speed can and do cause damage to gerboxes, which poses a great problem, since any service and maintenance has to be done on site, and during these same, often quite dangerous, wind conditions.
The new design features a novel arrangement of magnets inside the generator and copper coils which generate electricity as they pass the magnets, has cut the weight of direct-drive generators by about 50%, also making assembly much easier. An installed prototype has performed succesfully, proving the new technology in working conditions.
A company has been formed to pursue further development of the new drive technology – NGenTec. Funds are being raised in the vicinity of GBP 4 million in order to prove that a 6 MW generator would work, with another GBP 10 million being raised to set up an assembly and manufacturing operation.
Our technology has the potential to revolutionise the renewable energy industry by making wind power cheaper and more reliable, greatly increasing the efficiency of wind turbines for electricity companies. — Derek Shepherd, Chairman and acting Chief Executive, NGenTec
According to Derek Douglas (NGenTec), the new design is especially significant for the offshore wind industry which will no longer need big towers and deep foundations. University of Edinburgh has a 17.5% stake in the new company.
NGenTec certainly sounds like a rising star in the wind energy industry.
[source: Univeristy of Edinburgh, via: Times Online]
