Wind Power Applications

Accumulators and Coolers are used for many applications in the wind turbine. The demands that are placed on the product are distinctly different depending on the location and the application requirements, which heavily influence the product selection process.

One thing is common to both however, and that is the criticality of reliability and product lifetime, as unscheduled maintenance is normally very expensive due to the costs associated with system downtime, the need for skilled technicians, the location of the turbine itself and the fact that the nacelles can be up to 100 meter high!

Applications: Wind Turbines

• Pitch Gear Box
• Shaft Brake
• Yaw Brake
• Yaw Drive

When accumulators of any type are mounted in the hub of the turbine, they are subjected to extreme forces, and vibration due to the forces generated as the hub is turning. Also, when used in pitch control, the accumulators are working 100% of the time whilst the hub is turning, adjusting the blades many times per minute. Regardless of the technology used, these factors can lead to premature failure of components, if they have not been adequately designed & tested for these conditions. Furthermore, the accumulators can also be used to supply power for an emergency stop situation where the criticality of being available for use is high.

Bladder accumulators are the predominant technology being used today when accumulators need to be >10 liters in size, whether in the hub or the nacelle. They are ideal when price, space or weight is at a premium. Visually similar to “standard accumulators,” they are very different and specifically designed for use in this application.

Applications: Wind Turbines

• Power Packs
• Gear Box
• Generator and Electrical Cabinet