Turbine test: setting standards for smaller devices

LONDON--A global increase in the small and medium-sized wind turbines is to set of challenges for the examination and require new standards and certification in the UK and elsewhere.

Small and medium-sized wind turbines worldwide ever more popular, perform increases the need for confidence in their ability, as planned, safe and reliable both. This resulted in a complex and sophisticated testing and certification regime. So what they are testing challenges and how can they best be addressed?

The test criteria for small and medium-sized wind turbines are driven largely by the international standards. For example UK micro generation certification scheme (MCS) - includes wind turbines with a nominal capacity of less than 50 kW and area swept a rotor less than 200 m² - wind Orten heavy reliance on the British Energy Association (BWEA) small wind turbine performance and safety standard, which in turn refers to a set of international standards in the IEC 61400-series.

There in the United States and Canada, but instead on the AWEA is not dissimilar criteria 9.1 standard leave. The small wind Certification Council (SWCC) is the currently leading activity on this in North America.

BWEA both the AWEA standards are supported by and rely on IEC 61400-2: 2006, according to which the design criteria for small wind turbines. The "dash 2" standard gives guidelines for the design of a small wind turbine, which either a simplified download approach or a more aero-elastic modeling approach or a combination of the two.

The standard applies to the design of the horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT). In addition, there is a requirement to test the durability, safety and function of the transmitter.

Standards to come

The next edition of the standard (Edition 3: 201 X) is expected to be published in the near future. To deliver this next edition, an IEC maintenance team has worked very hard for two years and has reviewed many of the criteria in the light of the experience and current best solutions.

The resulting new version of standard give greater leadership, among others on the use of simplified load approach and dealing with extreme wind conditions.

The performance of the turbine is judged on the basis of the criteria in the IEC 61400-12-1: 2006, which makes performance standard and IEC 61400-11: 2003, the acoustic performance standard. A review of these two aspects is a turbine for a particular wind regime, purpose and location.

Medium wind define requirements

A UK-medium wind standard is currently in the design stage and probably will not be published before the end of this year. Forward, is to be hoped that the international community will eliminate the perceived problems with medium-sized wind turbines to a UK standard. While unlikely, they are medium-sized turbines that are the mainstay of the wind farms of the future, probably at an important role play distributed and collaborative projects in the wind, i.e. a reasonable standard is supported by Government incentives likely everyone will benefit in the long term.