Oct 11 2010
IBM has declared that its software introduced for the development of fine tuned wind control system to improve the power generating performance is widely utilized by companies such as Alstom and Ikerlan-IK4.
Most of the new wind turbines introduced in the market utilize an advanced system that incorporates a number of electronic sensors supported by the sophisticated IBM software to collect wind direction, temperature, wind speed and other inputs to optimize the functioning and efficiency of the wind turbines. The IBM software provides an interface to connect the wind turbines with a remote control system to monitor the inputs, carry out diagnostics and supervise the power generation from the wind farm.
Ikerlan-IK4 and Alstom have deployed the IBM software for the development of a super system that can computerize the wind turbine controls and related systems used for communication. Both the companies are also utilizing Gears Software Product Line Lifecycle Framework provided by BigLever Software a business associate of IBM. They utilize the software to modify the design of the wind turbine to enable its functioning in different types of climates and locations. The companies have found that by deploying the IBM and Big Lever software they could actually lessen the cost of development by 25% and reduce the product development time by nearly 1/10th for checking variation on each product development.
Alfonso Faubel, Alstom Wind’s Vice President, said that the advantage gained by the use of IBM software has helped the company to utilize a computerized process in the designing and development of wind control systems manufactured by the company. He further said that the software allowed them to provide tailor made solutions to meet the exacting requirement of the wind market. Dr. Salvador Trujillo, Ikerlan-IK4’s Chief product line engineer, said that the use of IBM software and BigLever Gears has helped the company in developing its product line with the required changes at a speed to meet the changing market requirements.