China’s Two-Bladed Wind Turbine Revolution: Equal Efficiency Achieved

Chinese company Envision Energy has announced that its two-bladed wind turbine prototype has been operating flawlessly for over 500 days with a 99.3% availability rate. The turbine offers performance equivalent to three-bladed systems.

The China-based renewable energy giant Envision Energy has announced that a prototype of its two-bladed, land-based smart wind turbine has been operating smoothly for over 500 days. The company stated that the turbine achieved a high availability rate of 99.3% and demonstrated a notable mean time between failures (MTBF) of 2,444 hours during this period.

Competing with Three-Bladed Turbines

The prototype generated an equivalent of 3,048 full-load hours annually, matching the output of conventional three-bladed turbines operating at the same site. This achievement shows that the balance and vibration issues that have plagued two-bladed designs for years have been overcome.

The new-generation turbine is built on the company’s Model X platform. This modular system uses high-speed DFIG (Doubly Fed Induction Generator) technology, which enhances both performance and system stability. The turbine is also noted for its lightweight design. The prototype underwent extensive testing at Envision’s smart wind energy validation center, where it was put through various operating scenarios using advanced infrastructure like a multi-axis load test platform. The company’s statement indicated that the system is ready for both engineering and commercial applications.

Previously, two-bladed turbines were not widely adopted in the industry due to engineering challenges such as vibration and load distribution. However, Envision has been working on this concept since 2012. That year, Envision Energy’s Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Denmark laid the foundation for this breakthrough with the development of a 3.6 MW two-bladed turbine named “Game Changer.” Advantages such as fewer components and lower weight make these turbines attractive for remote and developing regions where modular installation is crucial. The company’s Senior Vice President, Lou Yimin, stated that this technology could open a new chapter in markets with limited infrastructure.

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