Services
Wind Turbine Testing
The Barlovento Applus+ testing laboratory carries out various specialized wind turbine tests, some of which are accredited in accordance with the UNE EN ISO-17025 standard. In addition, our laboratory is a member of IECRE and MEASNET, organizations that establish international standards for the certification and testing of renewable energy equipment, ensuring the quality and reliability of wind turbines.
Wind turbine testing services carried out by Barlovento Applus+ include:
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Wind Turbine Power Curve Test
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Acoustic Noise
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Mechanical Loads
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Operation & Safety
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Fault Ride-through Tests
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Power Quality Measurement and Assessment
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Validation of Simulation Models
Wind Turbine Power Curve Test
This is a critical procedure to verify the performance of wind turbines that consists of measuring the energy generated by the wind turbine and the specific conditions of the wind project site. This test allows us to evaluate whether the conditions enabling the economic viability of the project – as specified in the contract – are met. For this test, conventional anemometry met masts are used, but also advanced methodologies such as LiDAR systems (either nacelle or ground).
These tests have accreditation no. 437/LE 1004
Acoustic Noise
These tests ensure that wind projects comply with current regulations regarding the impact on the territory and minimize noise pollution.
These tests have accreditation no. 437/LE 1004
Mechanical Loads
The objective is to verify that the mechanical stresses to which the main components of the wind turbine are subjected do not exceed the design parameters, enabling correct operation during the useful life of the project.
These tests have accreditation no. 437/LE 1004
Operation & Safety
These tests aim to verify the correct operation of the wind turbine control system according to design parameters, taking into account operating requirements under different critical operating conditions (transitory states) and safety.
These tests have accreditation no. 437/LE 1004
Fault Ride-through Tests
We perform voltage dip tests on wind turbines, PV inverters and synchronous generators powered by diesel and gas.
We designed specialised mobile laboratories to perform voltage dips and fault ride-through tests to wind turbines and power plants. The equipment is highly versatile due to its network connection capacity at different voltage rates and its possibility for adjusting the voltage dips’ depths and durations, according to the operating procedures included in the different grid operators.
Our electrical laboratory has accreditations to perform tests in more than 20 countries around the world and, since 2006, we have successfully performed them in wind farms and PV plants according to the main grid codes in Europe (Germany, Spain, France, UK, Romania, Denmark) and America (USA, Canada, Mexico, etc.). Currently, we are carrying out the accreditation process for several other grid codes in a process of continuous growth.
The Voltage Dip Generator (VDG) unit creates isolated faults by reducing voltage in two or three phases, recording electrical variables during the dip to measure power exchange. Field measurements, pre-test studies, and grid code evaluations culminate in a test report detailing compliance with grid code requirements.
Power Quality Measurement and Assessment
We carry out measurements of the quality of energy supply in electrical networks following the IEC 61000-4-30 and EN 50160 standards and we evaluate the main indicators of electrical networks, including:
- Voltage fluctuations, flicker
- Harmonics, interharmonics and high frequency components
- Voltage dips, surges and interruptions
- Voltage imbalances
- Related statistics
Moreover, we also carry out specific quality measurements of the power supply in wind turbines following the IEC 61400-21-1, NTS and FGW TR3 standards, always working with their most recent revision. Also, we evaluate:
- Power quality (harmonics and flicker)
- Steady-state operation:
- Observation of active power against wind
- Maximum active power (losses verification)
- Reactive power capability
- Voltage dependency of PQ diagram
- Unbalance factor
- Control performance:
- Active power control
- Active power ramp rate limitation
- Reactive power control (reactive power, voltage, and power factor control modes)
- Frequency control
- Synthetic inertia
- Disconnection from grid
- Grid protection
- Reconnection test
- Test of rate of change of frequency (RoCoF)
Validation of Simulation Models
The validation of the simulation model is intended to show that a mathematical model behaves dynamically in the same way as the real element when faced with the same disturbance, reproducing its response.
Currently, most operators worldwide are requesting the provision of plant simulation models that meet or that are validated for the operating conditions at their site. These models include simulation models of PV inverters, storage systems, wind turbines, simple or hybrid plant controllers, STATCOMs, etc.
We carry out tests for the validation of the models defined by IEC 61400-27-1, IEC 61400-27-2 and FGW norms. Since 2007, we have pioneered model validations per Spanish and German standards, specializing in accurate electric simulation model validation for renewable energy systems.
OTHER SERVICES
Additionally, we carry out:
- Campaign of meteorological measurements for the evaluation of the wind resource*
- Monitoring of different variables of wind turbines in operation and analysis of their influence on the performance of the installation.
- Durability, operation and safety, performance and noise tests of small wind turbines*
* These tests have accreditation no. 437/LE 1004