ENERCON’s preparations for wind power market launch are in full swing / Logistics are ready for delivery to prototype construction site in Germany
ENERCON’s preparations for the market launch of the new E-175 EP5 E2 are in full swing: The prototype team is making further progress with the test campaign of the E2 generator at the research and development site in Aurich and the logistics are ready for the delivery of the main components to the prototype construction site.
Last week, the generator ran under power for the first time, reports Renke de Buhr, Project Engineer in the generator team at ENERCON R&D. For ENERCON, the tests are an important milestone in the market launch: ‘The test campaign is part of our prototype programme and a prerequisite for delivering ENERCON quality to our customers in the series product.’
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Test programme an important milestone
The E2 is the performance-enhanced version of ENERCON’s new top model E-175 EP5. It has a newly developed generator with a rated output of 7.0 MW, which can be split for efficient logistics and installation processes.
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The prototype of the generator was manufactured at ENERCON’s Centre of Excellence Generator in Magdeburg. Following installation on the system test rig in Aurich, an extensive test campaign was launched at the end of December with practical tests and validation of the new component. This includes operating the generator at various power levels and analysing the sound characteristics. Other aspects of the test programme include the grid behaviour and the grid-friendly properties of the generator-converter combination.
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Logistics ready to go
ENERCON Logistics has also been active in recent weeks and has been preparing for the delivery of the E-175 EP5 E2. Delivery of the main components including the new generator to the prototype construction site in Wachendorf/Lower Saxony is scheduled for February. ‘We had a successful practical test for the new generator in December with the delivery of the prototype component from the production site in Magdeburg to the system test stand in Aurich,’ says Jens Lammel, responsible for logistics technology. ‘These transports were proof of our logistics concept. Everything went according to plan!’
The centrepiece of the E2 is a new divisible generator with a rated output of 7.0 MW, which is designed as an external rotor. Unlike previous generator types from ENERCON, the generator stator in this design is located inside, while the generator rotor rotates around the stator. This increases the air gap diameter from 5.50 metres for the basic E-175 EP5 generator to 9.50 metres for the more powerful E2 generator, which enables a higher torque and higher output.
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To ensure efficient transport to the construction site, low transport weights and maximum dimensions within the permissible range for heavy transport without police escort were targeted during the development of the E2 generator. The engineers therefore designed a divisible construction in which each half does not exceed a total width of 4.99 metres and a weight of 62 tonnes. This means that it can be transported to the construction site with significantly less effort. ENERCON is also not dependent on special equipment for installation on the construction site, but can carry out the assembly of the generator with standard 800-tonne class superstructure cranes.
The foundation work at the prototype site has now been completed and tower construction has begun. ‘The entire prototype team – including R&D, production, logistics and installation – is doing an outstanding job,’ says Christopher Schuirmann, Chief Engineer for the E2 at ENERCON R&D. ‘Our goal is to have the first E-175 EP5 E2 ready by the end of the first quarter.’
