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Mainova AG: eologix for Senvion turbines

In this customer project, 5 Senvion turbines of the type REpower 3.4M104 were equipped with the eologix:restart system with the special feature that an interface was certified by DNV in order to be able to intervene in the control of the turbine.

Wind farm: Niederhambach, Germany

Wind turbine type: Sennvion 3.4M104

Mainova AG Case Study
Windpark Mainova

About Mainova AG

Mainova AG is the leading energy service provider in Frankfurt am Main and energy partner for private and corporate customers throughout Germany. In 2009, the company entered the field of electricity generation from wind power and has steadily expanded this area in recent years. Mainovahas stakes in 14 wind farms. In total, the parks have an installed capacity of around 115 megawatts.

About the project

In this customer project, 5 Senvion turbines of the type REpower 3.4M104 were equipped with the eologix:restart system with the special feature that an interface was certified by DNV in order to be able to intervene in the control of the turbine.

The wind farm in Niederhambach previously had a conventional ice detection system, which identified whether ice was identified on the basis of the environmental parameters whether ice could ice could form, which would have led to a shutdown of the turbine. Due to considerable downtimes, it was decided to install a proven ice detection system. The eologix system was chosen, because:

  • it provides accurate and reliable ice detection,
  • automatic restart is possible,
  • and it is the best solution economically compared to other systems.

Ice detection system with automatic restart including certification of new interface for Senvion turbines

A new interface of the eologix:restart system was certified here for the first time for Senvion turbines at DNV, in order to be able to intervene in the control of the turbine, because the manufacturer of the turbine is already in bankruptcy.

Here was a special feature: the eologix system normally works via a 2-relay control or via an electronic interface, but Senvion turbines require a 1-relay control. In cooperation between eologix and Deutsche Windtechnik, this was implemented in a new control box and could thus be successfully installed in the first step on a test turbine. The test run was coordinated with the approval authority and a parallel test system was set up, after which an expert opinion was prepared that established the flawless functionality of the eologix:restart system with the control box. Subsequently, the entire system with the plant control was certified by DNV.

“Technically, it is an exciting product, as eologix is the only supplier that measures directly on the blade surface and can thus determine the icing condition. The more accurate and sensitive the ice detection system is, the higher the optimization potential of the individual plant is.” 

Christian Herwig l Project Manager Renewable Energies
Mainova AG, Germany

After a successful test on one turbine, the acceptance by the expert took place in November 2021. After submission of the expert opinion, the retrofitting of the other turbines was commissioned, which have already been installed and commissioned. The wind farm Niederhambach with the five Senvion turbines was successfully equipped with the eologix:restart system. The certification process, which we went through together, was fast and flawless, confirms Christian Herwig. From now on, the eologix system can also be installed on further Senvion turbines.

More profit with eologix sensor systems

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