JOIN US AT AWEAIMCORP stands together with AWEA in supporting renewal of the PTC

IMCORP will be exhibiting
at AWEA Windpower 2013 Conference in Chicago, IL
May 5th- May 8th
Booth# 4814

 

Renewable Energy Sites

Unlike conventional power generation facilities, wind and solar farms are significantly more dependent on the performance of an expansive cable system. With millions of dollars invested in collector system infrastructure and a lot of power riding on the line, site operators must make cable reliability a priority. Integrating IMCORP’s Factory Grade℠ test with new site commissioning and existing site maintenance ensures proper system performance by locating problem areas to remedy before they develop into unexpected downtime.

New Installation

The function of renewable power sites (to generate and supply power) is reliant upon the good working order of the expansive power cable infrastructure. Depending on its location in the collector system, a single cable system failure can take many turbines offline - causing lost power generation until the site of failure is located and remedied. Since 99% of cable failures are the result of defects originating in installation, verification of the cable system as a part of the commissioning process is vital to comprehensive operations oversight. The Factory Grade℠ test gives site managers the advantage of defect visibility to address problem areas before failure and lost power generation.

System Maintenance

The sprawling cable systems of wind and solar farms are often subjected to harsh conditions:

  • Direct buried in rough terrain
  • Extreme thermal cycling
  • Voltage surges caused by:
    • Lighting strikes
    • Power electronics
    • Voltage regulation equipment
    • Power factor correction equipment

Overvoltages and expansion / contraction cycles can create and exacerbate partial discharge (PD) activity - the forerunner of insulation failures - within a cable system. IMCORP’s Factory Grade℠ test is the most effective test available to locate these developing insulation problem areas before failure. Integration of the Factory Grade℠ test in an aged cable systems’ asset management program is the ideal solution to maintain maximum uptime.