Wind Turbine Aluminum Bus Bar Bonding

[cjcoronel21]

Good morning All,

We had a turbine in one of our wind farms whose aluminum hollow conductor running down the main shaft to the converter burn at the point of bonding. Since this aluminum bus bar is identical to those found in substations, I wanted to know if there is a standard and common practice/methodology on how aluminum bus bars are to be bonded. The goal is to identify the root cause of the burn.

Any direction to standards will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance

 

[7anoter4]

The following article describes some of the busbar fault causes:

http://ecmweb.com/content/basics-making-bus-bar-connections

The busbar may be welded. See-for instance:

https://www.aflglobal.com/productli...ding-Aluminum-Bus-to-Aluminum-Connectors.aspx

The busbar may be bonded using connectors:

https://www.aflglobal.com/Products/Conductor-Accessories/Substation-Accessories.aspx

In any case the following paper may be useful:

http://www.aluminum.org/sites/default/files/Aluminum Electrical Conductor Handbook.pdf

 

[stevenal]

Tubular aluminum bus pipe? Traditionally connections are done by welding, but making a good connection requires a skilled worker not having an off day. Compression fittings take the guess work out of it. [URL unfurl="true"]http://dmcpower.com/[/url]. Whichever method, suggest thermal scanning the completed connection with load.