Not only the gearboxes of wind turbines are subject to extreme stresses. Transformers are also a critical component. CG Power Systems, a manufacturer of such transformers, was looking for a partner to test its transformers under extreme conditions. It found that partner in Sirris. Pieter Jan Jordaens, Project Leader at Sirris, explains: “CG Power Systems uses our large climate chamber regularly to test and validate its transformers. The aim is to test reliability at very high temperatures and at cold startup.” The tests are performed at temperatures ranging from -40 °C to +50 °C.
Simultaneous
Sirris's climate chamber offers an extra benefit for CG Power Systems: it is big enough to test multiple transformers simultaneously. Jordaens: “Simultaneous testing is interesting if you want to test multiple product versions under identical conditions.” Tests can be immediately compared. That means a double benefit.