Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The most time-consuming part of Turbine design was the
electronic controller. From the perspectives of never-ending fight
for shorter time to market it made sense to move its design to a
specialised company. The later was experienced in controllers
for photovoltaic applications. However, some negative signs of
outsourcing started showing up soon. Firstly, the design time
stated in the contract was considerably exceeded. Secondary, the
company tried to utilise control algorithm common for photovoltaic
(PV) application in the Turbine controller—“marriage of black toad
to white rose” could never work. Obviously, the electronic design
company underestimated the difficulties of designing for wind.
Years later, Electronic Designer happened to be in New England; there
was a renewable energy fair in a city park. Electronic Designer dusted
his Company cap feeling like he got a date with Turbine and headed
to the park. However, the fair was small, not a single wind turbine.
There were several PV stands, though. Electronic Designer engaged
one salesperson in discussion of hybrid systems, but the person was
very anti-wind, claiming the difficulties of site selection and reliability
issues killed wind as a PV competitor or collaborator. Electronic
Designer was surprised to see the renewable field splitting on fighting
sects. When he shared his observation with Company president, the
later confirmed it:
“the solar industry has never been our friend; it's a
shame, but that's just how it is.”
Company confidence in its design ability was additionally
boosted by an unfortunate event. A tornado struck where a
Company turbine was installed. It remained standing, all blades
and body intact, despite the surrounding totally devastated. The
economics for Turbine looked very favourable, too. An advertising
campaign was launched in specialised publications to “fire”
potential customers in anticipation of manufacturing; “tornado
tough” was the marketing pitch.
When the design company delivered the Turbine controller
with corrected control algorithm, it turned up to still have several
problems. Some of them looked like design sloppiness: parts
were getting hot, LED lights were blinking when they were not
supposed to, and safety margins were tiny. Electronic Designer
managed to correct the most obvious of them, but some were not
easy to rectify.
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