Wind turbines play a crucial role in harnessing the power of wind, converting it into electrical energy. This conversion process is facilitated by the generator embedded within the wind turbine. The type of the generator significantly impacts the overall performance, efficiency, and reliability of the turbine system. In general, three types of generators are commonly used in wind turbines: Synchronous Generators, Asynchronous (Induction) Generators, and Direct Drive Generators.
Synchronous Generators: Synchronous generators, or alternators, consist of a rotor that rotates synchronously with the frequency of the electrical grid. They can be constructed with or without permanent magnets. Synchronous generators with permanent magnets (PMGs) have the advantage of not needing an excitation current, making them more efficient and less likely to overheat. However, they can be more expensive due to the cost of rare earth magnets.
Asynchronous (Induction) Generators: Asynchronous generators, also known as induction generators, are predominantly used in wind turbines due to their robustness, cost-effectiveness, and ability to generate reactive power to support the grid. They operate at variable speed, which allows for better adaptation to changing wind speeds. However, they require reactive power from the grid to generate electricity, leading to inefficiencies under certain operating conditions. There are two types of asynchronous generators: squirrel cage induction generators (SCIGs) and wound rotor induction generators (WRIGs). SCIGs are most commonly used because of their simplicity and ruggedness, but they lack the variable speed capabilities. In contrast, WRIGs are less common but can operate over a range of speeds.
Direct Drive Generators: Direct drive generators eliminate the need for a gearbox, reducing the mechanical complexity of the turbine and improving reliability. However, these systems require larger and more expensive generators. Direct drive generators can be synchronous or asynchronous, and many modern designs use permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) due to their high efficiency and power density.
How to predict failures of Wind Turbine Generators
Generators in wind turbines can fail due to various factors such as mechanical stress, electrical faults, thermal issues, and external environmental factors. Mechanical stress, often resulting from imbalances in the rotor or wear in the bearings, can cause catastrophic failure if not detected early. Electrical faults such as short-circuits, ground faults, and insulation failures can occur within the generator and significantly impair its operation. Thermal issues, resulting from inadequate cooling or overloads, can cause the generator to overheat, damaging the insulation and leading to failure.
Turbit AI monitoring can play a significant role in early detection of these potential issues and prevent catastrophic failure. Modern wind turbines are equipped with a plethora of sensors that continuously monitor temperature, vibration, electrical signals, and other critical parameters. The machine learning algorithms of Turbit can analyze this data to identify patterns that may indicate an impending failure. For example, an increase in vibration may indicate a mechanical issue, while a rise in operating temperature could suggest a thermal problem.
Turbit AI can also help predict when maintenance is needed, helping to schedule it optimally to minimize downtime and repair costs. Turbit AI can even indicate the failure mode and save hours of analyzing the data. This predictive maintenance approach is far more cost-effective than reactive maintenance, where issues are only addressed after they cause a problem. E.g. even if nothing can be saved and a complete exchange of the generator is necessary, still the spare parts and crane can be planned early in order to ensure minimal downtime costs that are mostly not covered by the full-service maintenance agreement.