Seawind Ocean Technology, based in Amsterdam, has signed an agreement with petrofac, a global company headquartered in London that designs, builds and operates power plants. The target? Implement two-bladed wind turbines, suitable to challenge any sea condition.
The peculiarity of Seawind's two-bladed floating wind turbines will be their integration with a special floating reinforced concrete structure. A structure that will make them suitable for installation in all possible and imaginable locations, including those subject to cyclones and very rough or deep seas.
More versatile, more resistant
According to the manufacturer, the two-blade technology implemented in the Seawind 6-126 “anti-cyclone” wind turbine (this is its name) will improve the efficiency of energy production and the stability of the rotor.
We have developed a new patented turbine technology wind balanced two-blade blade that has several advantages for offshore applications. The entire system is built in a port using shore cranes, with no ships required for offshore installation.
Vincent Dewulf, CEO of Seawind Ocean Technology
How does it resist cyclones?
The Seawind 6-126 turbine has a swing hinge that decouples the shaft from the rotor, and is able to protect the turbine from heavy loads. Furthermore, according to the company, its turbine has active yaw control which allows it to reach higher speeds.
Here are some technical specifications:
- Nominal capacity: 6,2 MW
- Rotor diameter: 126 meters
- Rotor speed: 20,8 rpm at rated power
- Top speed: 137 meters per second (m / s)
- Water Depth: over 50 m
- Wind speed in operation: 3,5-25 m / s (12,5-90 km / h)
- Resistance to cyclones: up to 70 m / s (250 km / h) with gusts of 90 m / s (325 km / h)
Route towards 2024
The first floating operating model of a two-bladed offshore wind turbine will be designed by Seawind and built by Petrofac. Wars permitting, we will see the turbine used in European seas by the first quarter of 2024: after the Mediterranean Sea it will be the turn of other places in the world.