Energetica India Magazine January-February 2021

WIND POWER The grid-friendly converters include FRT, SCR and SSR features, so they can be deployed anywhere in the world and are particularly well suited to emerging markets such as India or Brazil. The modular nature of the DFIG converters means they can customize and effectively minimize wind turbine LCoE. As the wind turbine market grows, so do demands for quality and performance, particularly from critical components such as power converters on whose perfor- mance the whole turbine depends. That’s where extended validation and certifica - tion comes in… Increased reliability and durability of these components makes wind turbines more economically viable. High quality design and extended validation methods of power converters are key to improving both reliability and durability, particularly in wind farms facing the toughest operat- ing conditions. Ingeteam’s new-generation power con- verters have undergone the toughest test scenarios and most realistic configura - tions, to prove in advance that the con- verter integrates properly with the turbine and operates correctly under the most demanding situations. The industry needs continuous perfor- mance improvement and regulatory inno- vations takes this into account. Ingeteam is both on the committees that issue re- quirements and also makes sure it adds the latest regulatory developments at the design phase of new power conversion solutions. This also applies to the compa- ny’s manufacturing plants, meaning the certification of the converter helps certify the whole wind turbine. The New Generation of Power Con- verters To this day, DFIG converters remain the most proven, efficient and cost compet - itive drive train topology for onshore ap- plications. Ingeteam’s DFIG converter se- ries has cost-optimized products for each market and application. The grid-friendly converters include FRT, SCR and SSR features, so they can be deployed any- where in the world and are particularly well suited to emerging markets such as India or Brazil. The modular nature of the DFIG convert- ers means they can customize and effec- tively minimize wind turbine LCoE. Inge- team’s vast knowledge and experience has generated design processes that combine development and validation, to ensure the supply of optimized DFIG power converters in the market for high power applications in the range of 6 to 8 MW. Because of the application’s particular- ities, grid integration is one of the most sensitive elements to keep the technology competitive and reliable while increasing the turbines’ rated power. DFIG genera- tors and the core components of the con- verter are key factors that ensure a robust and reliable solution regarding the various grid events that could occur, such as har- monic fulfilment, FRT, weak grids or SSR. Managing such events in virtually all lo- cations is a central added-value for Inge- team, with a high-quality model correla- tion that analyses any event or location that could arise. 44 energetica INDIA- Jan-Feb_2021 Ion Etxarri R&D Quality & Innovation Manager Ingeteam Wind Energy Reducing the Cost of Energy with Extended Validation and Certification of New-Generation Power Converters