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General Electric Wind Turbines
Superior power quality. Maximum energy capture. Reactive power control and voltage support. Reduced loads. The GE Wind Energy Technologies provide every benefit for high efficiency and reliability.
Variable Speed Control
GE Wind Energy technology features patented variable speed control technology to maximize energy capture from the wind and to minimize turbine drivetrain loads.
Dynamic Reactive Power and Voltage Support
GE Wind Energy's patented dynamic power conversion system with optional VAR control provides support and control to local grid voltage, improving transmission efficiencies and providing the utility grid with reactive power (VARs) to increase grid stability. GE Wind Energy technology, outfitted with its patented DVAR option, automatically maintains defined grid voltage levels and power quality in fractions of a second. This feature is particularly beneficial with weaker grids or larger turbine installations.
Advanced Electronics
This "variable speed" operation maximizes the turbine's ability to remain at the highest level efficiency. In contrast, fixed speed wind turbines only attain peak efficiency at one wind speed.
Through its advanced electronics, the GE Wind Energy turbine's control system continually adjusts the wind turbine's blade pitch angle to enable it to achieve optimum rotational speed and maximum lift-to-drag at each wind speed.
The result - greater annual energy production yield as compared to machines operating at constant speed. Additionally, while constant speed rotors must be designed to deflect high wind gust loads, GE Wind Energy's variable speed operation enables the loads from the gust to be absorbed and converted to electric power. Generator torque is controlled through the frequency converter. This control strategy allows the turbine rotor to overspeed operation in strong, gusty winds, thereby reducing torque loads in the drivetrain.
The GE Wind Energy variable speed wind turbine converts the extra energy in wind gusts to electric power. The GE turbine's operating speed range is notably wider than the "slip" range utilized by other available technologies which produce heat rather than electric power when regulating power in strong, gusty winds.
Active Damping
GE Wind Energy's variable speed system also provides active damping of the entire wind turbine system, resulting in considerably less tower oscillation when compared to constant speed wind turbines. Active damping of the machine also limits peak torque, providing greater drivetrain reliability, reduced maintenance cost, and longer turbine life.
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