Contactless Data Transmission in Wind Turbines

Electronic and Fiber Optic Rotary Joints

Today’s wind turbines have to meet increasing demands with regard to energy yield, efficiency, and reliability. To meet them, the systems linking the rotor blades and the control electronics in the nacelle must transmit signals at ever-greater speeds. PROFIBUS systems with data transmission rates of 12 Mbits per second used to be adequate, but these days real-time systems with significantly faster transmission rates of up to 100 Mbits or even a Gbit per second are deployed.

Data are typically transferred via conventional slip rings or fiber optic rotary joints. To optimize data transfer, SPINNER offers innovative solutions for both technologies in the form of products that have been specially developed to meet the requirements of the wind power market.

SPINNER Rotating Solutions - Real Time Data Transmission for Pitch Controls
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Electronic Signal Transfer in Rotating Systems

Because pitch slip ring systems are unable to consistently maintain high data transfer rates without any interruptions, SPINNER has developed electronic, contactless rotary joints which allow maintenance-free data transfer that reliably transmit up to 1 Gbit/s of Ethernet data.

Integrated in pitch slip ring systems or as standalone modules with an internal diameter of up to 300 mm, these systems transmit (real-time) data protocols based on IEEE 802.3 such as Powerlink, Ethercat, Profinet, and Sercos III.

They can also transmit protocols such as PROFIBUS 12 Mbits/s and CAN (in repeater mode) as well as RS-422 signals.

Electronic Rotary Joints

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Data Transmission via Fiber Optic Rotary Joints for Harsh and Moist Environments

For signal transmission via optical fibers, we also offer rotary joints optimized for use in wind turbines.

While developing them, we paid special attention to ensuring that they are rugged enough for use in harsh and moist environments. We offer fiber optic rotary joints for singlemode or multimode fibers; they have a IP65 protection rating and are resistant to icing and freezing rain. Their service life amounts to 200 million revolutions at 30 rpm within a temperature range from -40 to +85°C.

For cases in which only limited space is available for integrating rotary joints into pitch slip rings, we also supply smaller versions.

Fiber Optic Rotary Joints

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Catalogs and Brochures (PDF Download)

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  Contactless Data & Power Transmission (3 MB, 8 pages)
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  Fiber Optic Rotary Joints (5 MB, 20 pages)
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  Data Transmission in Wind Turbines (3 MB, 12 pages)
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  Rotary Joints for SPACE Applications (2 MB, 12 pages)
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  Swivels for FPSO Applications (2 MB, 6 pages)
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  Rotary Joints for Air Traffic Control (5 MB, 60 pages)
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  Connectivity Solutions for RF Anechoic Chambers (7 MB, 36 Pages)
• 
  Rotating Solutions 2008-2017 (9.7 MB, 116 pages)
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  Rotating Solutions for Camera Applications (2 MB, 4 pages)