Windera's direct-drive variable-speed, hydraulic drive train improves wind turbine performance

Testing for two years with a demonstration unit in Tehachapi, California, the Windera system is a dynamically-controlled, direct-drive, variable-speed hydraulic drive train, that produces extremely stable AC without the use of a gearbox or costly power electronics. Currently, owners of the older sub-megaWatt class wind turbines must recondition or replace ageing generators and gearboxes repeatedly in order to maintain electricity production. This involves shutting down the turbine for an extended period of time and, with crane services, removing the generator, gearbox, and other machinery needing service or replacement. Costly and time-consuming, this process extends the service life by approximately four to five years, when the process must be repeated. Windera offers wind farm owners an effective option that reduces growing operations and maintenance costs, extends the system's service life of 15-20 years, and increases the revenue generating potential by as much as 80%. Direct-drive eliminates the need for a gearbox, one of the most expensive components in the wind turbine to maintain and repair. The variable-speed characteristic allows the Windera system to produce electricity across a broader range of wind speeds than conventional wind turbines of the same class. More electricity yields greater profit. The number of kilowatt hours a wind turbine generates is primarily determined by the location's average daily wind speed. For up to 1/3 of the year, today's wind turbines produce very little usable electricity because wind speed is near or below the start-up or "cut-in" speeds and considerably lower than their rated wind speed where they are the most efficient. Many older wind turbines do not start producing usable electricity until wind speeds reach 10-12 mph. In contrast the Windera system begins producing usable electricity at 8 mph. Windera Power Systems