Modularity in Wind Turbine Generator Systems - Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Although the reliability of wind turbines have improved over time, there is still considerable interest in improving their availability. As the generator system has a sizeable contribution to the overall failure rates of turbines, it is important to consider methods of reducing the effects of these failures on the availability of turbines. This paper examines modular concepts for wind turbine generator systems from the point of view of increasing the availability of wind turbines. It explores the modularities possible in wind turbine generator systems at different layers, i.e. the functional and the physical layer. The paper also attempts to highlight some opportunities and challenges in including modularity in these layers.