E3120 Bedplate Solution

Bedplate Design Criteria

• Backward compatibility for E-3120 parts

  • Tower system (natural frequencies)

  • Major drivetrain components

  • Lightning protection system

• Forward compatibility with future solutions

  • New GFD main shaft system

  • Accommodation for additional yaw drive

• Design to worst case load scenario

  • Extremely high-turbulence, severe conditions

  • Includes extreme overspeeding loads

• Keen focus on minimizing stress levels in weld areas

• Validation of fatigue life through complete accelerated life cycle testing

Bedplate Design

• Result of comprehensive 15-month design-build-test effort

• Built to withstand the worst case operational loads

• Design load scenario based on actual, measured  E3120 loads, including:

  • Extreme ​turbulence, exceeding IEC 61400-1 turbulence level requirements

  • Prolonged overspeeding in high winds

• Thorough Finite Element Analysis (FEA) evaluation

  • Added material reduces stress at critical locations

  • Designed to minimize stress in welds

• Critical stresses reduced by nearly 4 times compared to production bedplate

Added Features

• Adjustable yaw backlash to reduce yaw “chatter”

• Larger and more access panels and larger standing areas for more efficient maintenance

• Accommodation for second yaw drive unit

• Compatible with GFD long life shaft solution

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Accelerated Fatigue Testing

• First production bedplate was torture tested

• Applied load scenario represented over 20 years of stress on the test unit

• Load and stress levels monitored with strain gauges

• Bedplate withstood over 20 years equivalent loading with no signs of damage