Warning wrong software for the 10KW SWG

[Cor van Houtum]

I want to give you a warning about using the 10kw SWG turbine software.
There are Versions out there with version level 1.06 to use in the Mitsubishi PLC
This version connects to the touch screen software 1.03
The problem with this version is that the yaw does not turn in the wind automatic,
(just does not work)

After a visit to the china factory we got a version 2.09 to use in the plc
this one works but however has other problems.

I explain,
when the new version of the 10kw engine was launched on the marked the yaw and the brake was on a hydraulic block and pump , the dumpload is offcourse electric.

without notice the factory started to modify the yaw system and replaced the hydraulic yaw motor into a electric yaw motor.

Because the 1.06 version did not work they have made the 2.09 version of plc software
but at this time there where 2 versions of engines in the field
(hydraulic yaw and electric yaw)
So they programmed a portion specialy for the hydraulics and one for the electric yaw version.

When you shoot the version 2.09 into the plc it goes automatic into the "electric yaw" mode.

When you have a hydraulic yaw system it will not turn anymore because the hydraulic gear lock wil not unlock before the motor starts turning.

The problem is that you will never know what is going on.
because on your display (touch screen) you do not have the option to choose between electric and hydraulic yaw.

The solution is to update the touchscreen with release 1.5 software
and there it is , the option button electric or hydraulic.

Dooing al this wil give you a working system BUT BUT BUT

The programmer was realy with his head elseware when he programmed this version
He forgot to put in the securety when the turbine is put in manual mode.

This works like this,
you can put the turbine on automatic , then it wil yaw , brake, dump automatic.
when put it on manual you can turn the turbine by "hand"
the securety on trigger levels like overvoltage must keep on working.
so even when on manual mode the turbine must never come in a overspeed/voltage situation and must be braked or dumped.

you could easely turn the turbine true the wind to the downwind site.
but when in manual mode , the protections do not work anymore.

see what happeness !!! blow up your inverters in seconds when the turbine faces wind.

I write this to you to prevent damage when you have this SWG system.

Put the hydraulic brake on the engine before you go to manual mode

I know it should not be this way but for now it is the only secure situation.

I am trying to explain the factory what they have done wrong

I keep you posted

Cor van Houtum

[Rob Beckers]

Thanks for the heads-up Cor. I've passed it on to a customer (you probably know who I'm talking about, but we'll protect the innocent and not mention names).

I wished the Chinese turbine manufacturers would stop using their customers as beta testers and actually try this stuff before they sell it...

-RoB-

[Cor van Houtum]

I wonder Rob what they are going to do with my claim
I lost 2 times a PVI 6000 with this nonsens

Today we went back on customer site and installed a Omron sensing relais
this relais is now measuring all the time the DC voltage after the rectifier
and trigger is 450 volts.
when the trigger is reached the relais drops it contacts
the relais contact is put in series with the big dumpload relais coil from the original SWG controller.
So if my omron senses more then 450 volts in all sitations it will put the dumpload relais without power
this one falls off and the dumpload is aktivated.

When the mains power fails then the electronics from the omron relais will not work
and the relais contacts are also in a open condition.

So when there is no mains available the system is always in dump also.

kind regards

Cor

[Cor van Houtum]

remember that the controller from the swg is used in the total high end series
so it is also for the 10-20 and 30kw generator

The skywing series however have other software but allmost simular hardware

The diference between the swg and the skywing is the generator
swg is a 3 phase permanent magnet and the skywing is a 3 phase motor.

The skywing does not need inverters it is coupled direct to the grid.
This system has a gearbox and a motor "generator"
when the wind speeds up the gearbox and motor to the nominal rpm of the motor
the plc will connect the main relais to the grid.
So basic the motor is powered by the grid at this point.
when the wind makes it go faster then the nominal rpm the motor will start to return energy into the net.

This can work in high wind aereas.
The system needs to have enough wind to reach the nominal value of the motor
if not it wil not produce energy.
if it is just around the nominal point it will be coupled but uses up energy instead of producing it.
But this is inherent to this kind of systems (you need high wind)

Ofcourse it is mutch cheaper (no need for inverters)

Do not ask me wat kind of harmonics this system will superimpose on the net
and what amount of frequenz the net will get at the feed in point .

kind regards

Cor

[Rob Beckers]

I wonder Rob what they are going to do with my claim
I lost 2 times a PVI 6000 with this nonsens

Today we went back on customer site and installed a Omron sensing relais
this relais is now measuring all the time the DC voltage after the rectifier
and trigger is 450 volts.
when the trigger is reached the relais drops it contacts
the relais contact is put in series with the big dumpload relais coil from the original SWG controller.
So if my omron senses more then 450 volts in all sitations it will put the dumpload relais without power
this one falls off and the dumpload is aktivated.

When the mains power fails then the electronics from the omron relais will not work
and the relais contacts are also in a open condition.

So when there is no mains available the system is always in dump also.

kind regards

Cor

Yup, that is exactly the setup I've been recommending to people that have turbines with overspeed potential. Still, some are convinced their turbine won't do that... Until it happens and the inverter blows...

Lately there has been a slew of broken inverters due to overspeed, so this is a real issue. If of course voids the inverter warranty (the event gets logged in permanent memory inside the inverter, so it is easy to tell for Power-One what happened). Power-One will 'fix' those inverters by charging a fixed amount of money and sending out a new one, but they are not happy about events as they have been happening lately (they probably loose money each time).

-RoB-