Clear potential savings for wind power installations
On the increasingly competitive wind power market it is more important than ever to guarantee maximum plant efficiency during the planning phase while incurring the lowest possible acquisition and follow-up costs. With its new LED systems for interior lighting, Weidmüller is offering high potential of cutting the total operating costs.
WIN! With its innovative and secure solutions for the harsh environment of wind power installations, Weidmüller is continually contributing to the competitiveness of customer applications. What sets the new lighting system apart?
Schlingmann: Our goal is not only to supply customers with individual components, but also to develop innovative concepts that simplify work processes and enhance plant efficiency. This is exactly what we've done with our new FieldPower® LED lighting system for wind power installations. The core element is the use of LED lamps, which boast extremely low power consumption and long-lasting durability. Used together with a complete system for uninterruptible power supply, remote monitoring and optional outlets, this creates a ready-to-fit solution for lighting, emergency lighting and power supply of the entire plant. All the parts are proven and perfectly coordinated to one another, so the lighting system can be easily included in any application.
WIN! Switching from tried-and-proven technologies to new ones is a step often fraught with risks and a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. What advantages does the LED technology offer compared with existing lighting solutions?
Hans Schlingmann, Business Development Manager for the Wind Segment at Weidmüller, explains the advantages of the innovative FieldPower® LED lighting system for wind power installations
Schlingmann: Up until now, linear fluorescent luminaires were often used to provide interior lighting in wind power installations. Compared with LED technology, linear fluorescent luminaires harbour a wealth of disadvantages during ongoing plant operation.
In addition to their high power consumption, they are also very fragile and often result in unnecessary additional costs for maintenance and replacement. It certainly isn't uncommon for the actual installation and maintenance work to be preceded by unscheduled servicing, as it is simply impossible to work safely in the towers without sufficient interior lighting.
In contrast, our FieldPower® LED lamps are especially energy-efficient and boast a service life of up to 20 years. They are certified pursuant to UL 1598 as well
as DIN EN 60598-1 and 60598-22. We have developed these lamps to be especially application-oriented. Thanks to their robust plastic housing with a protection class of up to IP 65 and their compact size, they are especially suited to the extreme environmental conditions in wind power installations.
Furthermore, the LED lamps contain no mercury and produce light that is free from UV and infrared. Unlike with conventional linear fluorescent luminaires, the full light output is available as soon as the lamps are switched on, regardless of the temperature and without any annoying flickering. The light intensity of the LED lamps is consistent, even in emergency mode and with low power consumption.
We have developed two FieldPower® LED variants to cater to the particular requirements of the different areas in a wind power installation. Given its non-directional light incidence, the FieldPower® MONO LED is excellently suited to illuminating large spaces and work areas in the blade and nacelle, for instance. We designed the FieldPower® DUO LED, meanwhile, to respond especially to the requirement in ascent and decent areas. Its design means that it delivers
The special design of the FieldPower® DUO LED offers light that is directed both upwards and downwards, which makes it ideal for tower lighting in the ladder
directional light on two sides, thus guaranteeing optimum illumination along footways and ladders.
WIN! In using LED lamps, you're choosing the efficient and secure option, but this solution also translates into higher procurement costs. How can Weidmüller's complete system help to cut operating costs in the long term?
Schlingmann: Thanks to our experience and expertise in the fields of power supply, data processing and signal processing, with the FieldPower® LED lighting system we have developed a sophisticated solution which, on the whole, saves money. You no longer have to consider all the components individually. Instead, the entire system including the power supply can be integrated into the plant with ease, so that the time-consuming and costly process of coordinating interfaces and components becomes a thing of the past. Our service that offers free light simulation coordinated to the application also simplifies the customer's planning process.
The FieldPower® LED's wide-range input from 24 V DC to 120 V DC enables illumination of large distances – in the tower of a wind power installation, for example. Even from a low conductor cross-section of 1.5 mm², up to 29 FieldPower® LED lamps can be supplied over a length of up to 230 m. Compared with the systems on offer at present, the use of a centralised, uninterruptible 24 V DC power supply minimises costs ranging from procurement and servicing to ongoing operation.
The entire circle of light can be monitored remotely, making service operations more efficient and thus cutting costs. Also a luminous signal can be triggered
The FieldPower® LED lighting system contains everything needed to provide wind power installations with power supply and interior lighting
by the circle of light to visually warn service staff when there are problems in the plant. At the moment, acoustic warning systems are used, but these can very quickly be drowned out by ambient noises.
This innovative and unique combination opens up fresh potential for cutting costs and optimising the efficiency of wind power installations, as well as simplifying quality management at the same time.
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