Wind Farm Retrofit Installation
Dangle is fast becoming a leading wind farm retrofit installation provider of power curve upgrades (PCU) to wind turbine blades. When installed correctly, these small aerodynamic changes to a blade's profile reduce drag and increase lift. This improves power output and annual energy performance (AEP).
Wind Turbine Maintenance
Award Winning Retrofit Installations at Dangle
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Increase Windfarm AEP
Optimise Wind Turbine Blades
Wind Farm Finance Available
Stabilise WTG & Blade Loads
Wind Turbine Blade Design
How well a wind turbine performs is dependent on many factors, and it should come as no surprise that the wind itself plays a central role. Nevertheless, the nature of wind poses a major challenge when trying to optimise operations. It can be hard to tell if a given change or tendency in performance is caused by an upgrade or simply by coinciding weather changes.
Regardless, turbine owners need a degree of insurance that an investment is going to pay off. We therefore conduct rigorous on-site tests to make sure we account not only for turbine type and blade condition, but also for the unpredictable nature of the wind.
Demonstrating the effectiveness of any upgrade is no simple task. At Power Curve, we have made numerous reflections upon this issue, which are described in the following pages. To account for differences in local wind conditions, we use the side-by-side method. This entails comparing the test turbine to a neighbouring reference turbine. To account for seasonal wind patterns, we base our analyses on 6-12 months of SCADA data logs both before and after we equip the test turbines with vortex generators. Ultimately, this allows us to provide statistically reliable estimates on a case-by-case basis for how well our upgrades
perform on our client’s specific fleet of turbines.
Power Curve Upgrades
In order to improve the power efficiency of a turbine rotor, we optimise its aerodynamic properties in two distinct regimes; on the outer part, where aging blades may suffer from surface roughness due to wear and tear, and on the inner part, where blades are characterised by thick airfoils.
Wind Turbine Blade Retrofit
Towards the blades root, it transitions from the outer aerodynamically efficient profiles to the inner circular load-carrying structure at the interface between hub and blade. Because of the thickness of these airfoils, their aerodynamic properties are inherently poor. Thick airfoils cause early stall, however by carefully applying our VGs in this region, we can improve power performance of both old and new blades.
Wind Turbine Power Coefficient
Demand for wind power is growing around the world. In fact, wind energy is forecast to make up a third of the global power supply by 2050. This is fuelling innovation in blade and equipment design. Engineers are constantly looking for new ways to make blades more aerodynamic properties. And to increase tip speeds.
However, wind turbines have an expected lifespan of 15 years or more. During this period, repair and maintenance costs can gradually increase due to wear and tear. And aging equipment may not be able to keep up with newer turbines.
New sites are difficult to find and costly to set up. This makes wind turbine retrofitting an attractive investment for wind farm operators. It doesn’t have to be a major overhaul. Even relatively small power curve upgrades can result in annual energy production increases of 2-4%. Return on investment is typically 1-3 years, depending on turbine type, local energy prices and wind distribution.
Wind farm operators need to minimise downtime, as well as operations and maintenance costs. All while maximising annual energy production, keeping a keen eye on the wind turbine power curve charts. The environmental impact of renewable energies is huge. This is why we’re dedicated to helping companies meet the ongoing challenges of optimising their sites through retrofits and maintenance.
Dangle is a wind turbine installation company specialising in wind turbine blade retrofits. We can help you to optimise the wind turbine blade design. For example, by installing vortex generators, gurney flaps and other aerodynamic improvements. These measures can reduce draft and increase lift. In turn, your wind turbine will be able to produce electricity more efficiently. And improve your wind turbine power coefficient.
Vortex generators are attached to the root section of a turbine blade. They can help to reduce flow separation and increase the performance of the turbine as a whole. As well as power and load, they’ve been shown to prolong service life.
Through an innovative partnership with Power Curve ApS, we can offer a comprehensive service. It comprises specialist design and testing services, flexible access solutions and expert installation. We can bring leading technical knowledge and modelling combined with installation know-how.
Our service comes with a design warranty for specific turbine models. And a co-financing offer for installations in 2020. This technology is already in place at more than 700 installations. That means a reduced project risk for you across a range of turbine brands.
Dangle is an award-winning, family-run business with international experience. Our size and structure means we always offer a flexible and versatile approach. We adhere to the highest safety, quality and service standards. Through innovative partnerships, we’re delighted to introduce this valuable new service. And to play a part in the evolution of the UK wind farm sector. We’ll integrate seamlessly with your teams for a smooth and effective installation process.
Do you need help with wind turbine installation and retrofitting?
Get in touch today. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
