WindEnergy: a sustainable future blowing strongly with Bonfiglioli
At the Wind Energy trade fair, the world’s biggest and most important wind business platform, taking place in Hamburg from the 24th to the 27th of September, Bonfiglioli showcases its groundbreaking solutions, result of its more than 40 years of experience in the wind turbine market.
Through its global presence, with production sites and distributors scattered all over the world, and backed by solid experience in the designing and manufacturing of gearboxes and in applications on wind turbines, Bonfiglioli has developed complete range of products, which seamlessly enables the control of energy generation, from rotor blade positioning with a pitch drive to nacelle orientation with a yaw drive. Focus on powerful offshore and onshore solutions, as well as service At the Booth 366, Hall B6, complete solutions for pitch and yaw drives for offshore and onshore turbines are displayed, this year with increased power, capable of reaching 18 Megawatt. As with other sectors, the goal of Bonfiglioli is to offer comprehensive solutions that combine all its expertise in developing mechanical, electrical and electronic components. Special attention is then dedicated to assistance both on-site, with rapid and targeted interventions, and remotely through the development of a condition monitoring system. In the corner dedicated to the offshore sector, a yaw drive and a pitch synchronous permanent magnet servomotor with increased power – both can reach 18 Megawatt – will be displayed. The yaw drive combines a sensorized 716TW planetary gear unit, a BE 160 asynchronous three phase motor and the onboard DGM modular inverter, directly integrated in the yaw motor. The 700TW series is chosen by a number of leading wind turbine manufacturers thanks to its advanced technical features, ensuring the highest level of performance and maximum torque density (peak torque of 225.000 Nm). Among its benefits, also its high radial/thrust load capacity and efficiency. The BE Series of asynchronous motors with aluminum frame is the right choice for many industrial applications. This compact motor is available in the IE2 efficiency class and can be equipped with several options: protection class up to IP 56, tropicalized, corrosion-resistant paint and anti-condensation heaters for an overall reduced operating cost and energy saving. The pitch servomotor displayed belongs to the BMD Series. Characterized by high torque density and compact dimensions, this permanent magnet synchronous servomotor meets the most stringent demands for dynamics and speed & position profiles thanks to low inertia and high overload torque, even at zero speed. The best results are reached by integrating frequency inverters and planetary gearboxes. In the corner focused on the onshore sector, both the yaw (714TW) and the pitch (709T3W) drive are coupled with a BMD 132 permanent magnet motor, a quite innovative technology in the wind sector, compared with the traditional asynchronous three phase motor and the AxiaVERT inverter. The pitch drive is a 709 TW model, capable of reaching 60,000 Nm of peak torque coupled with a BMD motor. Both pitch and yaw drives can achieve 8 Megawatt and belong to the 3rd generation, therefore they feature almost double the torque density and an improved structure compared to the first generation. Moreover, the PM motor mounted on them allows for a significantly better control in the field. A fifth yaw drive solution is present on the trade fair, aimed at underlining Bonfiglioli’s engagement towards a better service. The drive on display belongs to the 700 TW Series – a 709 T3W – and is fitted with W and Z sensors, as well as with a torque limiter which has been specifically developed to manage those overload phenomena that may occur in the field, sometimes causing mechanical component failure. The torque limiter acts as a sort of fuse protection which prevents the mechanical components from breaking. The yaw drive integrates also an energy saving asynchronous three phase motor of the BN Series which, like Bonfiglioli’s e-motors, can be equipped with several options, such as the BrakeMotor version with a selection of AC or DC brakes. To maximize the flexibility of e-motors, all of them can be controlled with inverters. The commitment of Bonfiglioli towards a greener carbon-free future For years, Bonfiglioli has upheld its commitment to the 'local for local' approach, establishing production and distribution sites close to its end customers. This strategy enables more efficient, targeted responses while actively reducing the company’s carbon footprint. In addition, Bonfiglioli is driving decarbonization at the company level through dedicated workshops with customers, where together they chart a path toward sustainability, reducing CO2 emissions progressively each year. Furthermore, as a member of the APQP4Wind Association, Bonfiglioli is dedicated to meeting the increasingly stringent technical and quality standards expected by the wind industry and its customers. www.bonfiglioli.com
