Nordex: 7 MW wind turbine to withstand extreme cold
A Nordex wind turbine is designed to withstand extreme cold without losing performance. A special de-icing system makes this possible.
The Nordex N175/6.X wind turbine is designed to withstand the Canadian winter.
(Image: Nordex Group)
The internationally active Nordex Group, headquartered in Hamburg, has developed a wind turbine that is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. The company promises that the N175/6.X will be able to achieve its rated output of up to 7 MW even at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. This should enable high energy yields regardless of the weather. The turbine is equipped with a special de-icing system on the wind blades.
The N175/6.X wind turbine was developed for extreme environmental conditions. The wind turbine has a rotor diameter of 175 meters and achieves a rated output of 7 MW. A single rotor blade measures 87.5 meters. The modular design means that parts from the Delta 4000 series can be used, which have already proven themselves in use worldwide.
The turbine is designed for low to medium wind speeds, making it suitable for locations in Canada, for example, where these wind speeds are typical. The turbine is now being offered there accordingly.
The one-piece rotor blades have been optimised for low wind speeds. Compared to the predecessor models N163/5.X and N163/6.X, the new rotors increase the yield by 7 to 14 percent and the wind turbine produces up to 22 percent more energy.
De-icing system for low temperatures
Particular attention has been paid to the durability and use of the wind turbine in extreme climatic conditions. The rotor blades are equipped with a de-icing system that can keep them free of ice. Ice-related downtimes can thus be reduced and the output kept constant. However, Nordex does not provide precise details of the sub-zero temperatures up to which the de-icing system works. However, the wind turbine should be able to maintain its rated output down to minus 30 degrees Celsius.
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Nordex also promises quiet operation of the wind turbine. It can also be equipped with demand-controlled night-time labelling and a bat module. The latter is designed to prevent the animals from flying into the rotor blades during operation. Despite being used in icy conditions, Nordex promises an operating life of 25 years for the turbine. Depending on the site conditions, longer operating times of up to 35 years are also possible.
(olb)
