GE 1.5 MW wind turbine
Encyclopedia
GE Wind Energy is a branch of GE Energy, a subsidiary of General Electric
. The company manufactures and sells wind turbine
s to the international market. In 2009, GE was the second largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world.
in 1980 by James G.P. Dehlsen, who also formed Clipper Windpower
in 2001. Enron
acquired Zond in January 1997.
In 2002 GE acquired the wind power assets of Enron during its bankruptcy proceedings while gas turbine
sales slumped. Enron Wind
was the only surviving US manufacturer of large wind turbines at the time, and GE increased engineering and supplies for the Wind Division and doubled the annual sales to $1.2B in 2003. It acquired ScanWind
in 2009.
In February 2011, GE also acquired Wind Tower Systems, LLC, a manufacturer of space frame
wind turbine towers.
. It consists of three fibreglass blades attached to a horizontal axis hub. The hub is connected to the main shaft which turns a multi-stage system of gears. The gears increase the rotational rate and send the kinetic energy
obtained from the wind to a doubly fed electric machine, where it is converted into electrical energy. The angle of the blades and the direction which the turbine faces are controlled by an active, all electric pitch and yaw system. The generator has a maximum output of 1.5 MW. The generator and gearbox are contained in the nacelle
which is further insulated to minimize noise emissions.
Three models in the series (the 1.5se, 1.5sle, and 1.5xle) had been developed by 2005. Their rotors ranged in diameter from 70.5 meters to 82.5 meters (231–271 ft), accommodating variable expected wind speeds. Several optional features support its presence in electrical grids, including voltage regulation
and the delivery of reactive power during grid disturbances or periods of low wind.
To further wind power research, a unit was commissioned at the National Wind Technology Center in late 2009. Its 10,000 installations in the US at the time constituted 50% of the national commercial wind energy fleet, influencing the NREL's decision to install a model at the Center. 12,000 turbines had been installed in 19 countries as of mid-2009.
in Oregon
is the first windpark in the United States to utilize this model as its primary wind turbine.
.
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. The company manufactures and sells wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s to the international market. In 2009, GE was the second largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world.
History
The entity was created as developer (not manufacturer) ZondEnron Wind
Enron Wind Systems, part of the Enron group, were manufacturers of wind turbines. The group was formed after the acquisition in January 1997 of Zond Corporation of California, the largest US developer of wind-powered electricity at the time....
in 1980 by James G.P. Dehlsen, who also formed Clipper Windpower
Clipper Windpower
Clipper Windpower is a wind turbine manufacturing company formed in 2001 by James G.P. Dehlsen, who also formed Zond in 1980. In December 2010 Clipper Windpower was acquired by United Technologies Corporation.-History:...
in 2001. Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
acquired Zond in January 1997.
In 2002 GE acquired the wind power assets of Enron during its bankruptcy proceedings while gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
sales slumped. Enron Wind
Enron Wind
Enron Wind Systems, part of the Enron group, were manufacturers of wind turbines. The group was formed after the acquisition in January 1997 of Zond Corporation of California, the largest US developer of wind-powered electricity at the time....
was the only surviving US manufacturer of large wind turbines at the time, and GE increased engineering and supplies for the Wind Division and doubled the annual sales to $1.2B in 2003. It acquired ScanWind
ScanWind
ScanWind was a Norwegian manufacturing company that produces wind turbines. In 2009 Scanwind was bought by General Electric, and formed the ground for GE Wind Energy as in Norway. The company has its head office in Trondheim and production facilities in Verdal, both Norway, as well as engineering...
in 2009.
In February 2011, GE also acquired Wind Tower Systems, LLC, a manufacturer of space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
wind turbine towers.
Products
The company currently produces three types of wind turbines, ranging from to .| Feature | GE 1.5 XLE | GE 2.5 XL | GE 4.0-110 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated capacity (MW) | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Cut-in wind speed | 3.5 m/s (11.5 ft/s) | 3.5 m/s (11.5 ft/s) | 3 m/s (9.8 ft/s) |
| Cut-out wind speed | 20 m/s (65.6 ft/s) | 25 m/s (82 ft/s) | 25 m/s (82 ft/s) |
| Rated wind speed | 11.5 m/s (37.7 ft/s) | 12.5 m/s (41 ft/s) | 14 m/s (45.9 ft/s) |
| Operational temperature | -30 C | ||
| IEC International Electrotechnical Commission The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology"... 61400 IEC 61400 IEC 61400 is a class of IEC international standards regarding wind turbines.-Purpose and function:The 61400 is a set of design requirements made to ensure that wind turbines are appropriately engineered against damage from hazards within the planned lifetime... wind class |
IIIb | IIIa, IIb | Ib |
| Frequency Frequency Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency... (Hz Hertz The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications.... ) |
50—60 | ||
| Voltage Voltage Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points... |
690 | ||
| Rotor diameter | 82.5 m (271 ft) | 100 m (328 ft) | 110 m (361 ft) |
| Rotor swept-area | 5346 square metre | 7854 square metre | 9567 square metre |
| Hub heights | 80 m (262 ft) | 75–100 m (246.1–328.1 ft) | Site dependant |
GE 1.5MW
The GE 1.5 megawatt series of wind turbines was developed with the cooperation of the United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. It consists of three fibreglass blades attached to a horizontal axis hub. The hub is connected to the main shaft which turns a multi-stage system of gears. The gears increase the rotational rate and send the kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
obtained from the wind to a doubly fed electric machine, where it is converted into electrical energy. The angle of the blades and the direction which the turbine faces are controlled by an active, all electric pitch and yaw system. The generator has a maximum output of 1.5 MW. The generator and gearbox are contained in the nacelle
Nacelle
The nacelle is a cover housing that holds engines, fuel, or equipment on an aircraft. In some cases—for instance in the typical "Farman" type "pusher" aircraft, or the World War II-era P-38 Lightning—an aircraft's cockpit may also be housed in a nacelle, which essentially fills the...
which is further insulated to minimize noise emissions.
Three models in the series (the 1.5se, 1.5sle, and 1.5xle) had been developed by 2005. Their rotors ranged in diameter from 70.5 meters to 82.5 meters (231–271 ft), accommodating variable expected wind speeds. Several optional features support its presence in electrical grids, including voltage regulation
Voltage regulation
In electrical engineering, particularly power engineering, voltage regulation is the ability of a system to provide near constant voltage over a wide range of load conditions.-Electrical power systems:...
and the delivery of reactive power during grid disturbances or periods of low wind.
To further wind power research, a unit was commissioned at the National Wind Technology Center in late 2009. Its 10,000 installations in the US at the time constituted 50% of the national commercial wind energy fleet, influencing the NREL's decision to install a model at the Center. 12,000 turbines had been installed in 19 countries as of mid-2009.
GE 2.5MW
The GE 2.5MW wind turbine (also called GE2.5XL) is the second and larger model of land based wind turbines sold by General Electric. It is currently in operation on three continents; Europe, Asia, and North America. The 845MW Shepherds Flat Wind FarmShepherds Flat Wind Farm
The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm is an 845 megawatt wind farm under construction in Oregon, United States. The project is located in Eastern Oregon in both Morrow and Gilliam counties, near Arlington. Approved in 2008 by state regulators, groundbreaking came in 2009...
in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
is the first windpark in the United States to utilize this model as its primary wind turbine.
GE 4.0MW
The newest turbine by GE, the wind turbine (also called GE4.0-110) is the only offshore wind turbine model currently manufactured by General Electric. The offshore GE 3.6 SL was discontinued, but its installations remain in operation at the Arklow Bank Wind ParkArklow Bank Wind Park
The Arklow Bank Wind Park is the first offshore wind farm in Ireland and the world's first commercial application of offshore wind turbines over 3 megawatts in size. It is located on the Arklow Bank, a shallow water sandbank in the Irish Sea, around off the coast of Arklow with an area of...
.