Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1.1 All new turbine design
What design decisions will make a new multi-megawatt (MMW) WT successful in
today's power generation market? How big should it be? What are the governing
parameters that drive its design and ensure that it operates without failure and for
the budgeted cost? These are just a few of the many questions at the beginning of
any new turbine design [54]. Providing the lowest CoE in the power generation
market is a challenge to the WT industry, but ever-improving designs are meeting
the challenge. MMW turbines often operate for over 20 years and are among some
of the largest manmade structures, especially from the perspective of controllable
moving parts. An all-new MW WT begins with conceptual design and follows a
rigorous technology building block and toll gate approach for component and sys-
tems development, and then undergoes a validation process involving prototypes
and pre-series projects prior to entering full production. Value analysis or value
engineering drives this process [4
6], where cost and fi nancial return are continually
assessed to ensure success for the customer and the OEM.
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1.1.1 Technology readiness levels (TRLs)
MW WT technology is advancing quickly, and concepts need to be character-
ized in a way that enables everyone to immediately understand the maturity of a
particular technology. The TRL system (used by NASA and U.S. Government
agencies) provides a common basis for assessing new concepts [7].
TRL-1: Basic principles observed and reported
TRL-2: Technology concept and/or application formulated
TRL-3: Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic
proof of concept
TRL-4: Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment
TRL-5: Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment
TRL-6: System/sub-system model or prototype demonstration in a relevant
environment (ground or space)
TRL-7: System prototype demonstration in a space environment
TRL-8: Actual system completed and “fl ight qualifi ed” through test and
demonstration (ground or space)
TRL-9: Actual system “fl ight proven” through successful mission operations
(space)
1.1.2 Technology proofs required (TRL-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
early phase
New turbine development cannot be undertaken effectively using unproven com-
ponent technologies. The best development strategy for new technologies involves
devoted internal research and development (IRD) programs. To mitigate risk, these
programs should be completed before embarking on a new product introduction.
New products released before proper validation and refi nement may result in the
OEM having to mitigate problems later in the fi eld, which can cost the OEM a factor
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