Induced shaft voltages, often measured over 1200 volts peak, are present on the shaft of wind turbine generators. These voltages cause high frequency bearing currents over 60 amps, which result in pitting, fluting and catastrophic bearing failure in as little as six months. Turbine failures cost tens of thousands of dollars in system down time, repairs, and lost revenue.
SOLUTION:
AEGIS WTG™ Bearing Protection Ring™
AEGIS WTG™ Bearing Protection Ring™ protects wind generator bearings from catastrophic failure. Tested up tower, the specially engineered Bearing Protection Ring™ is capable of channeling even the highest voltages and currents safely away from the bearings to ground. Generators and gear boxes are protected ensuring greater system reliability and up time.
AEGIS WTG™
Engineered to 120 amps of continuous shaft current
Rated to discharge 3000 V peak
High frequency shaft currents up to 13.5 Mhz
Available in split ring or solid ring design.
NEW Field Test Report Dec 2007
Uptower Testing Conclusions:
Adding AEGIS WTG™ on DE decreased shaft voltage by 84.5%
Wave form with AEGIS WTG™ was a smooth wave without bearing current discharge.
Carbon block brush only: voltage waveform showed bearing current discharge pattern. Voltage peaks were 6.5 x higher.
Application of AEGIS technology dramatically lowered shaft voltages and mitigated the risk of destructive bearing current discharges.