Energetica India Magazine January-February 2021

The Power of Validations As a critical wind turbine component, Ingeteam’s new-generation power con- verters must meet the highest quality re- quirements for wind turbine performance is dependent upon them. Ingeteam’s new power conversion solutions have passed all required tests, verifying the correct per- formance and the highest level of safety. Within this validation process, a large number of tests are focused on the as- sessment of energy and temperature haz- ards. For example, functional tests assess the behaviour of the converter in the event of failure of a cooling system or insulation components, simulating these failures or in temperature rise tests. Also, mechan- ical tests such as IP degree, corrosion, impact, or vibration also form part of the validation. Based on its experience in the wind tur- bine market, Ingeteam believes an ex- tended validation of power converters is appropriate to optimize the design and minimize any potential issues that may arise during the integration of the compo- nent within the wind turbine. The objective of this extended process of validation can be summarized as follows: • To identify design improvements or de- tect any design failures of the converter at the earliest stage of development, min- imizing subsequent design and manufac- turing costs due to modifications. • To test the converter under the most realistic conditions to validate the design under all possible scenarios and to verify it complies with requirements. The more accurate the test, the greater the reliability of the results. To achieve this, Ingeteam carries out four types of test to provide accurate data about the behaviour of its converters when installed onsite: o Combination tests in full-scale test benches. o Extreme climatic condition tests. o Extreme mechanical condition tests. o Electromagnetic compatibility tests. The Power of Certification Another cornerstone of Ingeteam’s de- sign process is certification. Achieving the combined requirements of maximum durability and reliability with cost-opti- mization is essential, but Ingeteam un- derstands that different international standards can present a barrier for wind turbine installation. So, Ingeteam consid- ers the strictest international standards for all its designs. Ingeteam participates in the committees that issue these requirements and thus it stays up to date of the latest regulatory in- novations and implements them from the design phase of the converter. Being proactive in regulatory demands leads to the improvement of new convert- er designs and avoids late modifications. Any new design within the company inte- grates the strictest standards for all the applicable marks and labels including CE, UL or DNV-GL. This approach is not only applied to prod- uct design, but also the manufacture of the products in its plants. For that pur- pose, the plants are certified for the man - ufacture of any component and marked with the main wind mark labels. These certifications confirm international com - pliance and avoid project delays due to any marking regulations and barriers. In addition, they facilitate the certification process of the wind turbine. Ingeteam has already certified its plants for power converter within DNV-GL and UL scopes, and in addition has been trained for APQP4Wind. The Benefits in an Instant Extended validation of Ingeteam’s new generation of power converters confirms their operational performance under the most severe conditions. The use of full- scale test benches for integration assess- ment and climatic behaviour evaluation are key to optimize the design and detect potential improvements at an early stage. The information obtained from the tests assures the optimization of the design and guarantees that the converter is go- ing to operate properly in the field. The incorporation of the latest and most stringent regulatory requirements at the design phase and also in the certifica - tion of the manufacturing for plant, allows Ingeteam to facilitate the wind turbine certification process, wherever the geo - graphical location, thereby reducing the project time-to-market and saving costs throughout the development and valida- tion design processes. Thanks to extended validation and certi- fication, Ingeteam’s new products deliver the best onsite value for money. WIND POWER 45 energetica INDIA- Jan-Feb_2021