Author: Francesco Miceli
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Wind farm substation: an overview
Almost in every wind farm a step-up substation is built to collect all the energy generated by the turbines and received through the MV cables. The exceptions are new wind farms or existing wind farms extensions built near a substation that can be upgraded to absorb the additional energy produced: in these cases, only a…
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Power curve: what is it and how to measure it
A power curve is a relationship between free wind speed at the WT location and the associated expected power being produced. Power curve warranties are often included in contracts, to assure the wind turbine performs according to specification. Here you have an example of how it looks like: It is measured following international standards to…
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Manitowoc cranes AutoCAD DWG blocks
Other AutoCAD blocks of cranes that you may find useful. Manitowoc cranes are not very common in europe but they are widely used in the states. Manitowoc 16000 Crane AutoCAD Block Manitowoc 18000 Crane AutoCAD Block
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Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) in wind farms
Horizontal directional drilling is a technique frequently used in wind farms when we have the need to cross the pipes below roads, rivers or even the sea. Here you have the picture of 2 slightly different solutions, one using directional drilling and the other with horizontal drilling. The installation of a pipe using directional drilling…
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Terex Demag cranes AutoCAD DWG blocks
Here you have my collection of Terex Demag cranes: Terex Demag CC2800 narrow track crane AutoCAD block Terex Demag CC 6800 AutoCAD DWG block More Liebherr cranes here.
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Wind turbines foundations grouting
Grout is an extra high properties material that is normally used in wind farm construction just below the tower flange, above the foundation. It is a transition material, designed to have a very high fatigue resistance. All the dynamic loads need to be transferred and absorbed by the grout connecting the tower to the foundation…
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Wind farm civil works projects: typical errors
Here you have my collection of errors I frequently see when I check wind farm project developed by external companies. Being a quite peculiar sector is no surprise that I normally found several mistakes: here you have the most commons. Error #1: two levels crane pad / foundation area designed without considering the slopes…
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Geotechnical survey for a wind farm: standard field and laboratory tests
In general, the geotechnical study of a wind farm should describe the terrain in order to provide the necessary information to develop the following works: Turbine foundation project: definition of the allowable soil bearing capacity and the most appropriate type of foundation (e.g. shallow, semi-deep, foundation on piles, etc..). Wind farm access roads and hardstands…
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Concrete towers for onshore wind farms: an overview
Concrete towers are still an uncommon solution nowadays, basically they are still more expensive than they steel counterparts. But the trend we see in the market is toward highest tower, of 100 meters and above, while current 2MW-3MW turbines normally have an hub height around 80 meters: this can lead to situation where an hybrid…
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Wind turbines foundation design
Wind turbines foundation design is an art (and a job) by itself. Here you have a very quick overview of the process for shallow foundation (Patrick & Henderson foundation, widely used in the USA, follow a totally different approach) . The inputs for the foundation design are the result of the geological survey and the…