Target of the Life Cycle Test is the validation of the specified design life cycle of 20 years, 175.000 hours, based on a 500 hours test. Within the 500 hours, all load and stress situations are performed even harder then in a real life cycle field operation.

• (20h) Over speed greater 150 % in compliance with a 20 years gust specification
  - 200 times play at cycle time of  365s
• (80h) Alternating powered and generating operation.
  - 288.000 times play, with cycle time of 1s
   (same as every half hour synchronizing process in real life)
• (200h) Micro pitting for high loads and low movement between the tooth flanks.
  - 72.000 times, cycle time of 10s
   (that means every 2.5 hours a gust stronger than normal cut off point)
• (200h) 150% Of nominal input torque with 0.5 Hz
  - 144.000 times, cycle time 5s
• Maximum torque test is still running
  - 10 times, 2 min., cycle time 10s

Results:

The results of the Life Cycle Test proof, that design and manufacturing process of the WinDrive are absolutely capable for the specified 20 years life cycle:
- The WinDrive bears up 5.400 kW
- The WinDrive bears up 150% over speed
- Absolutely no damages or wear up marks.

WinDrive prepares for start of production.
At the Wind Energy fair in Husum, Voith Turbo Wind has agreed on a contract with DeWind for the delivery of 18 pre-series WinDrives.
Delivery of the series with triple-digit numbers per year starts this month with the pre-series according to schedule. All of them are destined for the DeWind Turbine Model 8.2.

The 2 MW, 60 Hz WinDrive is now in operation. The Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in West Texas, in a joint venture with the City of Sweetwater, has purchased a DeWind D 8.2 wind turbine featuring the Voith WinDrive. The wind turbine is installed in Highland Texas, just a few miles from the TSTC campus in Sweetwater.

Construction and commissioning has been completed and the unit is now online and delivering electrical power to the local grid.

The claim to fame of this ground-breaking system, are the advanced demands of integrating the wind turbine into the existing power grid (SCR < 10). This requires the supply of reactive power inductive < 0.85 and capacitive < 0.85. TSTC students will have access to this unique piece of technology in the course of their studies in the Wind Energy program.

DEWI-OCC Offshore and Certification Centre GmbH certificated the Wind Turbine D8.2 - 2000 60 cps (Hz) according to the guidlines of IEC 61400-1 Windcalss IEC Type Class II A. One more important milestone on the way to carry the WinDrive to the market could be achieved.

The extention of operation range of the WinDrive is possible! A 500 hours test with 1,.5 Million and 1.4 times higher alternating loads proofs, that micro pitting does not appear.

In the cool climate test the WinDrive could prove it's full operational capability in tailspin operation and in warm up runs from a temperature level of -40°C (-40°F).

WinDrive Cool climate test  ISDN, 128 kB    WinDrive Cool climate test  DSL, 768 kB