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06/06/2011
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ABB has completed factory acceptance testing of the medium voltage (MV) drive and medium and low voltage switchgear to be supplied for Project Nautilus, a new 3 MW drive train test rig for marine renewable technologies, being built by Narec in North East England.
 Nautilus will allow accelerated life-time testing of turbine components such as those used in new tidal power generation devices. ABB is supplying a 3 MW medium voltage drive, a 12-pole, 3 MW motor, oil filled input transformer, three oil filled distribution transformers, MV and LV switchgear and two portable equipment buildings to house the components.
The motor, which will undergo factory acceptance testing later, weighs almost 60 tonnes as it has been designed to develop a large torque and turns at the slow speed of 600 rpm.
Dave Southern is the Narec Project Sponsor for Nautilus and oversaw the factory acceptance testing of the MV drive and MV switchgear at ABB facilities in Switzerland and Sunderland. He said:
"The testing went very well, with no problems. This equipment has been procured by Narec, through a rigorous public procurement procedure, in order to provide a test facility which is capable of delivering extremely onerous test regimes, typical of the conditions that will be seen by the devices in their final service environment.
"The Nautilus test rig will minimise the risks associated with mass deployment of machines in the field through its ability to apply both accelerated life and extreme event testing in a controlled test environment. It is the intention of Narec to present these test regimes as a route to accelerated certification of marine devices.
"The demonstration of equipment reliability is of paramount importance to the renewables industry and the ability to demonstrate this through controlled testing onshore, before deploying devices offshore, will significantly reduce the financial risks for both equipment manufacturers and developers alike.
"Project Nautilus will act as a real catalyst for technology development and the growth of the UK marine energy sector. This facility, located in Blyth, Northumberland is unique – there are no comparable facilities else where in the world."
When the project is completed next year, the ABB motor and drive will form part of the drive train of the Nautilus facility. Working through a gear box, they will drive a force application system, a special coupling that will turn a turbine while applying axial forces to it in three dimensions to simulate changes in tidal flow.
Andy Alexander, Northern European Regional Sales Manager for ABB's MV drives, says: "ABB was chosen for the project because we could supply a complete turnkey package of drive, motor, switchgear, ancillary equipment and the portable equipment buildings to house them. We also have a proven track record of using this type of drive in similar test stands.
"ABB is heavily involved with renewables and we regard it as a key market. We welcome the opportunity to be involved with this project and to work with Narec to define its needs."
Because Narec will be able to perform certification activities, reliability and performance appraisal of new devices in a controlled facility, Nautilus will remove some of the risk involved in field testing of marine renewable energy technologies at sea.
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Author
ABB Ltd
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