The DOE Next-Generation Drivetrain for Wind Turbine Applications: Gearbox, Generator, and Advanced Si/SiC Hybrid Inverter System: Preprint

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2016.7855499· OSTI ID:1301814

Erdman, William; Keller, Jonathan

This paper reports on the design and testing results from the U.S. Department of Energy Next-Generation Wind Turbine Drivetrain Project. The drivetrain design reduces the cost of energy by increasing energy capture through drivetrain efficiency improvements; by reducing operation and maintenance costs through reducing gearbox failures; and by lowering capital costs through weight reduction and a series of mechanical and electronic innovations. The paper provides an overview of the drivetrain gearbox and generator and provides a deeper look into the power converter system. The power converter has a number of innovations including the use of hybrid silicon (Si)/silicon carbide (SiC) isolated baseplate switching modules. Switching energies are compared between SiC and Si PIN diodes. The efficiency improvement by use of the SiC diode in a three-level converter is also described. Finally, a brief discussion covering utility interconnect requirements for turbines is provided with a particular focus on utility events that lead to high transient torque loads on drivetrain mechanical elements.

• Research Organization: NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States))
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1301814
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-5000-66562
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
FERC 661
LVRT
NERC utility interconnect
SiC
Silicon PIN diode
asynchronous generation
converter efficiency
cost-of-energy
drivetrain
frequency support
inverter efficiency
medium voltage inverter
negative sequence
neutral point clamp NPC
permanent magnet generator
silicon carbide
wind energy