Siemens Unveils New Raft Of Wind Turbines

September 29th, 2016 by Joshua S Hill

German engineering megalith Siemens has unveiled a new raft of wind turbine designs at the WindEnergy Hamburg trade show this week, including a new turbine for low wind and medium wind locations, and a low-noise turbine for noise-sensitive sites.

The three new wind turbine designs are all based on Siemens’ direct drive platform, which means they all have the same nacelle design, allowing Siemens wind turbines the opportunity to adapt to nearly any environment they are needed in. This will also mean Siemens’ various wind turbine designs will not result in the need for numerous manufacturing lines, as the modular nature of these new designs rely on only one nacelle design.

“Our new wind turbine portfolio is the result of an intelligent platform strategy that allows maximum flexibility,” said Thomas Richterich, CEO Onshore of the Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “Our customers benefit not only from benchmark setting performance in different wind classes, but also from the adaptability of our technology that meets nearly every site-, grid- and project specific requirement. Thanks to digitalization, these turbines are open for further optimization and individualization.”

The three new turbine designs include the new low noise wind turbine, the SWT-3.3-130LN; the new medium wind speed-location turbine, the SWT-3.6-130; and the new low wind speed-location turbine, the SWT-3.15-142.

The SWT-3.6-130 is a 3.6 MW wind turbine specifically designed to produce maximum energy yield at sites with moderate to medium wind speeds, and uses B63 blades measuring 63 meters in length. According to Siemens, the SWT-3.6-130 should be able to produce an annual energy output of up to 17 GWh at 8.5 m/s.

“The new SWT-3.6-130 sets a competitive benchmark for wind turbines designed to harvest maximum power outputs in environments with moderate wind conditions,” said Thomas Richterich, CEO Onshore of the Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “Our new unit impressively demonstrates the potential of our modular platform concept allowing further development and maximizing AEP.”

The SWT-3.15-142 is similarly specifically designed to maximize energy yield at sites with low wind speeds.

“Our SWT-3.15-142 wind turbine extends our onshore product portfolio as a powerful low wind machine that sets the standard for its class,” said Thomas Richterich. “Together with a blade supplier, we broke new ground with the rotor. Hybrid-carbon is a proven technology that offers weight advantages particularly for low wind application.”

Finally, the SWT-3.3-130LN wind turbine operates at a reduced rotor speed and includes aerodynamic add-ons to its rotor blades which mean the turbine can be operated at a noise level of only 104.9 decibels.

“The fast air stream passing the tips of the rotor is primarily responsible for the characteristic noise of a wind turbine in operation,” Siemens said, explaining that it has made aeroacoustic optimizations to the blades which will allow silent operation. In addition, the trailing edges of the blade surface are equipped with a combination of serrations and combs, which Siemens has labelled Siemens DinoTail Next Generation. Each combed teeth creates fine vortices at the point where the air stream from above the blade profile meets the slower air stream flowing below, thus reducing noise significantly.

“With our SWT-3.3-130LN wind turbine, our customers bank on reliable technology and add the advantage of a significant effect in noise mitigation,” said Richterich. “The new model closes a gap in our portfolio: Wherever an IEC IIA class turbine is needed but noise protection requirements set limits, this wind turbine is the definite first choice.”











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