Dewind
Encyclopedia
DeWind is an internationally active producer of wind power plants, originating in Germany. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in Irvine, California
and Lübeck
, Germany
. DeWind has the legal form of a corporation
, and, since Summer 2006, it is a subsidiary company of the Californian manufacturer of transmission and distribution cable products Composite Technology Corp. Managing director of the company is Marvin W. Sepe. Manufacturing takes place in Lübeck and Round Rock, Texas
. DeWind GmbH filed for bankruptcy
with the Lübeck bankruptcy court at the end of August 2008. DeWind Inc. announced to pay for the old debt of the German subsidiary.
More than 500 DeWind turbines have been erected world wide with a total capacity of over 500 MW.
After a development period of two years, in 2002 the D8 went into production with a capacity of 2 MW.
Already in the mid-nineties, the D4 was produced with active pitch regulation as well as a doubly fed induction generator
. This technology proved itself and, therefore, was implemented in the following models D6 and D8. Especially advantageous are the decoupling of the rotational speed of the turbine rotor and the grid frequency. By using the inertia of the turbine rotor, it reduces mechanical loads on turbine components and prevents peaks in electricity feed-in.
The D8.2 has been developed based on the D8 and is in production since 2006. The plant has been equipped with a hydrodynamic windrive Gearbox. This allows the variation of the rotor speed independent of generator speed. A decoupling of generator rotation speed and grid frequency becomes redundant by this means. The synchronous generator
of this turbine is coupled directly with the grid. The system is unique on the wind energy market. According to DeWind, it is advantageous regarding the quality of fed-in electricity as well as regaring behaviour in case of grid failure. Also, patents of the wind turbine producer GE Energy are not violated with this technology. The turbine is offered with 50 Hz as well as 60 Hz design.
and a synchronous generator. The WKA was put into operation in December 2007 and has supplied the Veladero gold mine of Barrick Gold
with electricity since then.
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
and Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
, Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
. DeWind has the legal form of a corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
, and, since Summer 2006, it is a subsidiary company of the Californian manufacturer of transmission and distribution cable products Composite Technology Corp. Managing director of the company is Marvin W. Sepe. Manufacturing takes place in Lübeck and Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
. DeWind GmbH filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
with the Lübeck bankruptcy court at the end of August 2008. DeWind Inc. announced to pay for the old debt of the German subsidiary.
More than 500 DeWind turbines have been erected world wide with a total capacity of over 500 MW.
Turbine Types
First produced wind turbine was the D4 1996 with a capacity of 500 kW (later 600 kW). In 1999, this turbine was followed by the D6 with 1 MW capacity. In 2000, the capacity of this plant was increased to 1.25 MW.After a development period of two years, in 2002 the D8 went into production with a capacity of 2 MW.
Already in the mid-nineties, the D4 was produced with active pitch regulation as well as a doubly fed induction generator
Doubly-fed electric machine
Doubly fed electric machines are electric motors or electric generators that have windings on both stationary and rotating parts, where both windings transfer significant power between shaft and electrical system...
. This technology proved itself and, therefore, was implemented in the following models D6 and D8. Especially advantageous are the decoupling of the rotational speed of the turbine rotor and the grid frequency. By using the inertia of the turbine rotor, it reduces mechanical loads on turbine components and prevents peaks in electricity feed-in.
The D8.2 has been developed based on the D8 and is in production since 2006. The plant has been equipped with a hydrodynamic windrive Gearbox. This allows the variation of the rotor speed independent of generator speed. A decoupling of generator rotation speed and grid frequency becomes redundant by this means. The synchronous generator
Synchronous motor
A synchronous electric motor is an AC motor distinguished by a rotor spinning with coils passing magnets at the same rate as the power supply frequency and resulting rotating magnetic field which drives it....
of this turbine is coupled directly with the grid. The system is unique on the wind energy market. According to DeWind, it is advantageous regarding the quality of fed-in electricity as well as regaring behaviour in case of grid failure. Also, patents of the wind turbine producer GE Energy are not violated with this technology. The turbine is offered with 50 Hz as well as 60 Hz design.
Record-holding turbines
The world's highest wind turbine of company DeWind is located in the Andes/Argentina to 4100 metres (13,451.4 ft) above sea level. Turbine type D8.2 - 2000 kW / 50 Hz was used for that site. This turbine has a new drive train concept with a special torque converter (WinDrive) of the company VoithVoith
The Voith GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany, is a family-run corporation in the mechanical engineering sector with worldwide operations....
and a synchronous generator. The WKA was put into operation in December 2007 and has supplied the Veladero gold mine of Barrick Gold
Barrick Gold
Barrick Gold Corporation is the largest pure gold mining company in the world, with its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and four regional business units located in Australia, Africa, North America and South America...
with electricity since then.
External links
- www.dewindco.com - DeWind Inc. showing construction of a DeWind turbine for Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater, TexasSweetwater, TexasSweetwater is the county seat of Nolan County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,415 at the 2000 census.-History:Sweetwater received a U.S. post office in 1879. The Texas and Pacific Railway started service in 1881, with the first train arriving on March 12 of that year, beginning...