An increase in the temperature of the sliding bearings of the AREVA Wind M5000 power turbines was noticed in the spring, causing two turbines to be taken out of operation. As per the AREVA maintenance concept, a replacement of the nacelle was required in order to change the sliding bearings.
First, the two out of service turbines at positions AV07 and AV09 in the farm were replaced so that they could be put back into operation successfully. Afterwards, the turbines at positions AV 08, 10, 12 and 11 in the farm were replaced. Up until their replacement, the turbines continued to feed power into the grid at partially reduced maximum capacity. The replacement procedure for each turbine took only a few hours, starting with the removal of the rotor and of the old nacelle and finishing with the placing of the new nacelle and remounting of the rotor. This was followed by the electro-technical work required for their restarting as well as test runs up to their nominal output of 5 MW. For the transport of the new nacelles from Eemshaven (Netherlands) to the offshore test field and for the nacelle exchange, special, tried and tested ships were used, such as the jack-up barges JB 114 and the Sea Worker.
First, the two out of service turbines at positions AV07 and AV09 in the farm were replaced so that they could be put back into operation successfully. Afterwards, the turbines at positions AV 08, 10, 12 and 11 in the farm were replaced. Up until their replacement, the turbines continued to feed power into the grid at partially reduced maximum capacity. The replacement procedure for each turbine took only a few hours, starting with the removal of the rotor and of the old nacelle and finishing with the placing of the new nacelle and remounting of the rotor. This was followed by the electro-technical work required for their restarting as well as test runs up to their nominal output of 5 MW. For the transport of the new nacelles from Eemshaven (Netherlands) to the offshore test field and for the nacelle exchange, special, tried and tested ships were used, such as the jack-up barges JB 114 and the Sea Worker.