The increase in electricity generated from renewable energy has a major impact on the electrical grid. Wind turbine generators feed the electricity into the grid via power-electronic converters. Therefore, the validation of the system characteristics and the grid-supporting performance of wind turbines are becoming increasingly important for grid stability. The so-called fault-ride-through capacity of a wind turbine to not detach itself from the grid during sudden voltage drops or voltage peaks in the electricity grid (FRT), the provision of reactive power supply or the compensation of frequency deviations are some of the requirements to be met by wind turbines. Evidence of these features in new turbines must be provided during the development process and market launch of wind turbines. In the past, manufacturers have provided evidence of these properties with a complex measuring routine on prototype turbines in the field.
Now the Fraunhofer-Institut für Windenergiesysteme (IWES) in Bremerhaven, Germany, and the Nordex Group have developed a new approach. As part of a research project, a hardware-in-the-loop test bench was created over a period of three years. On the test bench, the electric drive train of the wind turbine is tested in isolation on a grid simulator. The big advantage is that all other components of the wind turbine are simulated in real time and the test bench can of course be operated regardless of the weather. A first generator and converter configuration has already been successfully tested and certified “in the laboratory”.
Michael Franke, Vice President Global Engineering of the Nordex Group: “Field validations of turbine system properties are necessary but time-consuming. Added to this is the difficulty of finding a suitable site for the test series. Measurement of the electrical grid properties of a turbine in the field takes more than 12 months until certification. The same test on the IWES test bench has now been completed in three months – a saving of nine months. This test bench represents a major step forward for both partners as it makes a faster time to market possible.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Reuter, Director of Fraunhofer IWES: “Thanks to its flexibility and functionality, the test bench is also ideally equipped for the expected future requirements for verification.”
With the so-called HiL (Hardware in the Loop) test procedure the Nordex Group is currently very well positioned within the overall sector. IWES and the Nordex Group plan to further intensify their collaboration in the form of follow-up projects. The further growth of wind energy, the energy transition and the operators will benefit from this.
Picture:
From left to right: Mathias Malischewski, Project Manager Concept Development Nordex, Prof. Dr. Jan Wenske, Deputy Director IWES, Michael Franke VP Global Engineering Nordex, Prof. Dr. Andreas Reuter, Managing Director IWES, Gesa Quisdorf, Group manager Electrical Integration, Jörg Schwarte, Deputy Director Concept and Product Development Nordex, Dr. Christian Wessels, Director Electrical Engineering Nordex, Torben Jersch, Head of Electrical Testing IWES
The Nordex Group – a profile
The Group has installed more than 41 GW of wind energy capacity in over 40 markets and in 2021 generated revenues of EUR 5.4 billion. The company currently employs a workforce of approx. 9,000. The joint manufacturing capacity includes factories in Germany, Spain, Brazil, the United States, India and Mexico. The product portfolio is focused on onshore turbines in the 4 to 6.X MW class, which are tailor-made for the market requirements of countries with limited space and regions with limited grid capacity.
