The wind turbine controller is a key component in the wind power generation system, and its normal operation has certain environmental requirements:
Temperature environment
Working temperature range: usually required between -20 ℃ and 50 ℃. This is because the performance of electronic components is affected when the temperature is too high. For example, high temperatures may increase the leakage current of semiconductor devices, thereby affecting the accuracy and stability of the controller. In low-temperature environments, battery performance may decrease, and LCD screens may exhibit display abnormalities. If it exceeds this temperature range, the controller may malfunction, such as crashing, data loss, or component damage.
Temperature change rate: Avoid sudden temperature changes. Because rapid temperature changes can cause thermal stress in the internal components of the controller. For example, when suddenly entering a high-temperature environment exposed to sunlight from a cold night, due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of different materials, small cracks may appear in the solder joints, chip packaging, and other parts of the printed circuit board (PCB), which can cause problems such as poor contact.
Humidity environment
Working humidity range: The relative humidity is generally required to be between 30% and 90%. Excessive humidity can cause water vapor in the air to easily condense into water droplets on the surfaces of electronic components inside the controller. These water droplets may cause short circuits, corrosion of circuit boards and component pins. For example, when the humidity reaches saturation, once the temperature drops, water vapor will condense. However, low humidity can easily generate static electricity, and electrostatic discharge may damage sensitive electronic components such as integrated circuit chips.
Moisture prevention measures: In order to ensure normal operation in humid environments, controllers usually need to be installed in well sealed cabinets, where desiccants can be placed to absorb excess moisture. At the same time, in the design of the cabinet, waterproof and moisture-proof structures need to be considered to avoid the intrusion of rainwater or humid air.
electromagnetic environment
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC): There are various sources of electromagnetic interference in the environment where wind turbines are located, such as lightning, nearby radio towers, and electromagnetic radiation generated by other electrical equipment. The controller needs to have good electromagnetic compatibility, be able to resist external electromagnetic interference, and its own electromagnetic radiation should also comply with relevant standards to avoid interfering with other devices. For example, in thunderstorm weather, the powerful electromagnetic pulses generated by lightning may couple to the power or communication lines of the controller, interfering with the normal signal transmission of the controller. Therefore, the circuit interface of the controller needs to be equipped with electromagnetic protection devices, such as transient suppression diodes, filters, etc., to suppress these interference signals.
Shielding requirement: In order to reduce electromagnetic interference, the outer shell of the controller is usually made of metal material to form an electromagnetic shielding cover. This can effectively block external electromagnetic radiation from entering the interior of the controller, while also preventing internal electromagnetic signals from leaking out. During installation, it is also important to maintain a certain distance between the controller and other devices that may generate strong electromagnetic interference, such as transformers, high-power motors, etc.
Mechanical environment
Vibration and impact requirements: Due to the installation of wind turbines at high altitudes and the vibration generated by the rotation of the wind turbine, the controller needs to be able to withstand a certain degree of vibration and impact. In terms of design, the circuit boards and components inside the controller need to be installed in a vibration resistant manner, such as using shock pads, fixed brackets, etc. For example, when the wind is strong, the unbalanced force of the wind turbine or the shaking of the tower will be transmitted to the controller, and the vibration acceleration may reach several g (gravitational acceleration). If there are no good anti vibration measures, the solder joints on the circuit board may become loose, and components may detach from the socket, leading to controller failure.
Dust and sandstorm environment: Wind turbines are usually installed in the wild, and there may be a large amount of dust or sandstorm in the surrounding environment. If these particles enter the interior of the controller, they will accumulate on the surface of electronic components, affecting heat dissipation and potentially causing short circuits between components. Therefore, the protection level of the controller cabinet is generally required to reach IP54 (dustproof level of 5 to prevent harmful dust accumulation; waterproof level of 4 to prevent liquid from splashing onto the equipment from all directions) or higher, and the ventilation openings of the cabinet need to be equipped with dustproof filters to regularly clean dust and ensure normal ventilation and heat dissipation of the controller.