Efficient Energy Generation and Distribution

Modern data communications technology is being increasingly used in the generation and distribution of wind energy, and it is also an indispensible requirement for the implementation of smart grids. As the conditions at wind energy plants are just as harsh and rugged as in any other industrial environment, the infrastructure components and systems need to be able to cope with extreme stresses. That is why the network, connection and cabling technology offered by Belden and its Hirschmann™ and Lumberg Automation™ brands, which have already amply demonstrated their reliability in the field of industrial automation, are also the components of choice for data communications in wind energy plants.

The trend in this area is very clearly towards standardization and uniform data protocols. Ute Decker, Vertical Marketing Manager for Alternative Power Generation at Belden, comments: “Power stations’ data links to the power grid are progressing well, and Ethernet is increasingly being used in place of existing disparate and, in some cases, proprietary solutions. This means, for instance, that inverters are also being equipped with appropriate interfaces.” Ms. Decker observes a further trend, namely that more and more data is being recorded, networks are acquiring ever more subscribers, and transmission is increasingly in real time. “In this context we find that security, i.e. protecting the transmitted data against unauthorized access, is becoming more and more important,” she points out.

Only modern data communications technology enables operators to keep continually up to date on the performance and status of their installations, because this technology facilitates condition monitoring, remote maintenance and surveillance. In fact, it has become indispensible both for controlling the plant and system, and for integrating them into SCADA systems. In addition, it not only maintains security, but also guarantees functional safety. “At the end of the day, data communications technology also plays an important role in setting up smart grids,” explains Ute Decker, “because it not only enables interaction between the grid and the generator, but also facilitates real-time control, and makes it possible to have all the necessary data and parameters at hand.”

In the generation and distribution of wind energy, data is exchanged not only within one or more wind energy plants, but also between them and their substations. There are often separate networks for different tasks: “Besides Ethernet, certain applications also use fieldbuses such as CAN and wireless solutions for condition monitoring, and some remote monitoring facilities make use of existing interfaces such as GSM or DSL,” explains Marketing Manager Ute Decker. To ensure reliable data communications, the components and systems need to be particularly robust, and able to withstand both extreme temperatures and high levels of humidity. They also need to be physically sturdy, shockproof and vibration-proof. Their ability to function must be unaffected even by strong magnetic fields, chemicals, and oils.

The systems and components manufactured by Hirschmann™, Lumberg Automation™ and Belden® have been designed for precisely these requirements. “The modular and compact Industrial Ethernet switches in our MICE, RS, RSB and MACH series have been successfully used in countless wind energy plants for many years,” says Ute Decker, “as have the WLAN access points in our BAT series, the industrial security solutions of our EAGLE line, and network management tools such as Industrial HiVision.” The comprehensive product portfolio is rounded off by embedded Ethernet solutions, fieldbus repeaters and distributors plus Industrial Ethernet and fieldbus cable, patch panels and industrial plug-in connection systems.

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