Dec 16 2009
Northern Power Systems has selected Analog Devices’ SHARC digital signal processors for use in the company’s Northwind 100 community-scale wind turbines. The Northwind 100 wind turbine utilizes an advanced ‘digital drivetrain’ and the wind turbines are capable of delivering 100 kW of rated power for community-scale wind applications such as municipalities, schools, universities, farms and businesses. By incorporating SHARC digital signal processors, data converters and other ADI components in the Northwind 100’s Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) design, the need for a gearbox is eliminated.
Kiran Kumar, Lead Controls/Embedded Engineer, Northern Power Systems, the company’s gearless wind turbine design has helped customers to achieve high energy yield and a quick return on investment as well. He added that the ADI’s signal processing platform has helped the company to enhance the system performance without any additional expenditure.
Due to variable wind speeds, the power flow from the Northwind 100’s generator fluctuates and the power converter regulates the power flow. Thus a steady power flow is ensured from the wind turbine to a grid helping to maintain grid stability and eliminating costly interconnect infrastructure.
Tim Resker, Product Marketing Manager, Analog Devices, the utilization of Analog Devices’ components and processors in the Northwind 100 wind turbine assures efficient power generation and cost reduction. He further said that Analog Devices helps technology developing companies such as Northern Power System to design systems that enhances energy efficiency and maximizes return on investment in renewable power.
Source: http://www.northernpower.com