Maintenance and Operation

Like most heavy machinery, wind turbines require routine maintenance. Regular scheduled inspections for maintenance of the ExPlace turbine occur twice a year. An electrical company trained to maintain and repair the machine handles unscheduled maintenance due to parts replacements or technical issues.

Multiple detection computer systems in the nacelle and at the base of the turbine shut down the turbine if any discrepancies are detected in the systems. After troubleshooting to determine the discrepancy, the turbine must then be restarted.

Why isn’t the turbine turning?

There are two scenarios due to which the blades of the ExPlace turbine will not be spinning: wind conditions and mechanical restraints.

Wind is a proven technology: the wind industry is growing at unprecedented levels around the world and technological and efficiency improvements are occurring at unprecedented rates. Most of the turbines built today are larger and more efficient then the Ex Place turbine, which was designed in 1999. The Lagerway at Ex Place was one of the first models of the LW-52 manufactured, and was the first LW-52 installed in North America. Subsequently there has been particular challenges resolving technical problems based on the pioneer nature of the machine, and some technical problems with this particular machine have proven to be time-consuming to rectify.

Shelburne Wind Farm

As wind farms continue to develop across the Province, Canadian expertise and in-country parts availability is improving and it becomes less necessary to import parts from overseas suppliers. Wind turbine maintenance becomes more economic when conducted by Canadian technicians, and the more turbines that can be serviced by a visiting specialist, the more economically efficient that service becomes.

STATUS OF EX PLACE TURBINE

Status: The turbine is currently operational.

Updated: Mar 24, 2008