AOC 15 user manual General Description and Features of the Turbine

2.0 System Description 8

The following sections provide a general description of the AOC 15/50 and its control system.

2.1General Description and Features of the Turbine

The designation 15/50 refers to the 15 m diameter wood/epoxy or fibreglass rotor and its projected rated output of 50 kW. This rated output is achieved at 12 m/s (26.8 mph) by the 50 Hz version and at 11.3 m/s (25.3 mph) by the 60 Hz one.

The AOC 15/50 includes the following design features:

∙Advanced NREL thick series airfoils

∙High strength to weight ratio wood/epoxy or fiberglass blades

∙Electro-magnetically/actively controlled tip brakes

∙Single piece hub casting

∙Rotary transformer to power the tip brake magnets

∙Integrated planetary gearbox

∙Induction generator

∙Single piece cast tower top with turn table yaw bearing

∙Uniformly tapered lattice tower

∙Dynamic brake

∙PLC based controller with adaptive features

∙Optional tilt-up lattice tower

Both turbine versions are designed to cut in at 4.6 m/s (10.2 mph). The 50 Hz version reaches its peak continuous output of 55 kW at 15 m/s (34 mph); the 60 Hz one achieves its peak of 65 kW (60 Hz) at 16 m/s (36 mph). Assuming 100% availability and average wind speeds of 8 m/s (18 mph), the 50 Hz wind turbine is calculated to produce approximately 190,000 kWh per year and the 60 Hz one, 215,000 kWh. In average wind speeds of 6.7 m/s (15 mph), the 50 Hz version produces approximately 145,000 kWh annually and the 60 Hz one, 153,000 kWh.

NOTE: Energy production is site specific and varies with altitude, temperature, topography, climate and the wind turbine’s proximity to other structures, as well as its maintenance condition.

The standard tower is a 24.4 m (80 ft) tall, self-supporting lattice structure. The gearbox is integrated in the single piece cast housing. See Figure 2-2 for a more detailed view of the drive train assembly. The generator is flange mounted to the planetary gearbox, with the parking brake coupled directly to the generator.

NOTICE: Use of the material contained in this document is subject to the warning on page Iv and the disclaimer on page v of this document.

DOC012R02 AOC 15/50 User Manual Nov 2001