- #1
Enthalpy
- 667
- 4
Nice toy... :!)
A recent offshore wind turbine. 6MW peak power, the rotor has 120m or 154m diameter
The alternator rotates at the blades' speed, without a gearbox... With D=6.5m, it uses permanent magnets, its stator must be actively cooled, and the nacelle weighs 200t.
Still not my electrostatic alternator, but it surely is a mere matter of time.
Some literature (zorry for ze languich):
http://www.windpowermonthly.com/go/enews/article/1133700/ (English)
http://www.energy.siemens.com/hq/pool/hq/power-generation/renewables/wind-power/wind%20turbines/6MW_direct_drive_offshore_wind_turbine.pdf (English)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_SWT-6.0
http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/feature/2012/energy/factsheet-6mw-d.pdf
http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/feature/2012/energy/factsheet-b75-rotorblatt-d.pdf
Dong Energy meant this was exactly the tool they wanted, because they ordered 300 of them for 2.5G€
Let me estimate... The manufacturer alleges 23*106 kWh a year, but 44% of the peak power must be optimistic even offshore. Say 1/3 of the peak power (instead of 1/4 on land), it's still 600MW mean power for 2.5G€ acquisition cost. Thereafter, raw material is free, maintenance limited, and accidents have consequences on the turbine only.
Compare with my favourite punch-bag, the EPR: 1600MW peak power or 1200MW mean (or zero dot nothing watt if things continue as presently) for presently 8.6G€ acquisition cost before the next increase and the penalties, plus fuel, maintenance, dismantling, 240,000 years protected storage, and disasters... well, you know.
The wind is turning.
A recent offshore wind turbine. 6MW peak power, the rotor has 120m or 154m diameter
The alternator rotates at the blades' speed, without a gearbox... With D=6.5m, it uses permanent magnets, its stator must be actively cooled, and the nacelle weighs 200t.
Still not my electrostatic alternator, but it surely is a mere matter of time.
Some literature (zorry for ze languich):
http://www.windpowermonthly.com/go/enews/article/1133700/ (English)
http://www.energy.siemens.com/hq/pool/hq/power-generation/renewables/wind-power/wind%20turbines/6MW_direct_drive_offshore_wind_turbine.pdf (English)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_SWT-6.0
http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/feature/2012/energy/factsheet-6mw-d.pdf
http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/feature/2012/energy/factsheet-b75-rotorblatt-d.pdf
Dong Energy meant this was exactly the tool they wanted, because they ordered 300 of them for 2.5G€
Let me estimate... The manufacturer alleges 23*106 kWh a year, but 44% of the peak power must be optimistic even offshore. Say 1/3 of the peak power (instead of 1/4 on land), it's still 600MW mean power for 2.5G€ acquisition cost. Thereafter, raw material is free, maintenance limited, and accidents have consequences on the turbine only.
Compare with my favourite punch-bag, the EPR: 1600MW peak power or 1200MW mean (or zero dot nothing watt if things continue as presently) for presently 8.6G€ acquisition cost before the next increase and the penalties, plus fuel, maintenance, dismantling, 240,000 years protected storage, and disasters... well, you know.
The wind is turning.
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