Wind Energy has begun to dominate the alternate energy sector. Wind turbine manufacturers are therefore faced with challenges like reduction of downtimes and maintenance of the turbines. The turbines are subject to extreme environmental conditions such as extremes of temperature, oscillation, vibration and effects of the air composition.
PNOZmulti base unit
With the above environmental conditions prevailing, ensuring the safety of the turbines becomes a vital requirement for smooth operations and long life. With more and more wind mills being installed in America, the need for sound safety measures for the turbines also becomes important. Pilz has designed the PNOZmulti system that ensures operational continuity even when the system fails or individual components fail.
The PNOZmulti makes sure that the turbine is brought to a secure state for the machine and the operator in case of a failure. Some of the safety features offered by the system are emergency stop button, master low voltage switch, pitch system, protection for medium voltage transformer and oil pressure and hermetic protection. Some of the peripheral safety features include limit values for true power, rotor speed, generator speed, line transport and vibration. There is also a fire detection option available with the safety system. All the safety features are created on the PC using the PNOZmulti Configurator, these features can be stored on a chip and downloaded into the base unit. By using the PNOZmulti the wear and tear of the mechanical parts is reduced significantly and the safety of the machine and the operator is guaranteed. A coated version of the PNOZmulti is available for use in extreme conditions. Communication systems such as the fieldbus system can be used along with the PNOZmulti. The user program is password protected and a range of access levels are provided for the maintenance staff and the installation engineers.