Honeywell Proprietary
Honeywell.com
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• Customer Needs (Inverter Manufacturers and Solar Panel Installers)1. PV solar panel manufacturers – not our focused customers
• Three technologies are competing for cost-leadership – Silicon-wafer-based photovoltaics– Thin-film PVs– Concentrated solar thermal power
2. Equipment/instrument manufacturers • Improve the efficiency of power generation• Maintain stable output of electricity vs. time and temperature• Prevent voltage spikes
3. Solar panel installers• Maximize efficiency of power generation by
tracking the sun • Prevent the panel from overheating - spikes in
voltages above safe levels for their inverters when the panel temperatures get too high
• Identify the location of bad cells, shorts in wiring caused by corrosion
• Key Challenges– Harsh environment
Solar Energy Company Needs and Challenges
Honeywell Proprietary
Honeywell.com
2
Sensor and Switch Solutions for Solar
Honeywell Proprietary
Honeywell.com
3
• Customer Needs: (Wind turbine manufacturers and component suppliers)– Decrease cost of energy to improve ROI (6~8 cents/kWh vs. 5 cents for
coal-fired plants)– Efficient turbines– Increase reliability of whole system– Increase service intervals for off-shore applications– Minimize downtime (e.g., GE - 15% in 2002 to 3% in 2007)– Reduce maintenance costs– Durable wind turbines
• Key Challenges– Reliable, continuous speed measurement of
blades at low speed– Blade stress and premature fracture/failure– Condensation inside the blades– Harsh environments– Gearbox failure– Lightning– Vibration
Wind Turbine Manufacturer Needs and Challenges
Honeywell Proprietary
Honeywell.com
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Sensor and Switch Solutions for Wind Energy
Honeywell Proprietary
Honeywell.com
5
Momentary rope pull limit switch used to detect rotational twist
GLS Limit Switches available with a widevariety of options including low energy for PLC interfacing. Contacts incorporate positive break contacts which ensure the contacts break evenin the event of a welded contact. These types ofswitches can be used to detect the BLADE limit.They can also be applied to Rotor Lock maintenanceapplications.
Low cost vibration detectionis possible with this cat’s whiskerswitch – invert the switch, attach asuitable weight and it is possible to detect extreme vibration conditions that may otherwise damage themechanism
Blade Position
Twist Detection
Vibration in Nacelle
Limit Switch Potential Applications
Tower Man Lift A GLS limit switch can be used to detect floor positioning; GK key Safety switches on the lift gates doors
Locked RotorA GLS Switch can be used for maintenance lockout of the rotor