Wind Turbines | Wind Energy

Wind turbines are high-performance machines with many interacting components. Today, manufacturers are faced with the challenge of making the systems even bigger and more powerful while at the same time reducing production costs in order to meet the increasing demands on profitability. Therefore, easier maintenance, shorter construction times and the reduction of downtimes are becoming increasingly important. In the areas of cable routing, cable management and EMC technology, icotek offers highly efficient and economical solutions – for onshore as well as for offshore wind farms.

» Split cable entry systems and » cable glands by icotek enable a fast, safe and cost-effective way to feed several preassembled cables (e.g. multi-pin power plugs, circular M connectors, signal and sensor connectors) through control panel or enclosure walls without voiding the warranty of the cables. icotek split cable entry components also seal the entry points with up to IP66/IP68 and UL type 4X rated protection and provide strain relief according to EN 62444.

Cables without connectors (up to 115 mm in diameter) can be routed through » membrane based cable entry plates which provide up to IP66/IP68 and UL type 4X rated protection.

Many of our cable entry components are suitable for standard cut-outs of heavy multi-pin industrial connectors (e.g. by Harting, Molex) or fit on round metric cut-outs from M16 to M85.

For installation of icotek cable entry components we offer numerous » flange plates and assembly systems for enclosure bases, walls and roofs of many manufacturers (e.g. Rittal, Pentair Hoffman).

For a secure and structured cable management and strain relief of electrical lines icotek offer several » strain relief plates for various mounting methods.

» KEL-ER-E cable entry frames IP66: cable feed-in and strain relief of several control cables with circular M connectors at a pitch control system of a wind turbine.

Interior of the nacelle of a wind turbine.

EMI cable shield grounding is very important. The area where the cable shield is connected to the enclosure ground is a critical point. It is very important that the connection has a low resistance (EMC). icotek SKL » cable shield clamps are a low cost but highly effective and universal solution. SKL clamps can be installed on mounting rails, the panel wall itself or directly on frequency converters, drives or bus modules. In comparison to conventional EMC brackets an up to 50% higher contact area can be achieved when using the SKL line.

Fields of application for icotek cable management components in wind turbines/wind farms are e.g.

• Control panels/enclosures
• Pitch control systems for wind turbine blades
• Slip ring assemblies for energy- and data transfer
• Connection of measuring instruments / sensors to the nacelle interior
• Connection of obstruction lighting to the nacelle interior
• Cable routing inside the nacelle
• Supply cable routing inside the tower
• Condition monitoring systems
• Generators
• Transformers
• AC inverters

In general, icotek products have a high quality and outstanding efficiency. All icotek products are quick and easy to install and to be assembled with cables, during the initial installation as well as in case of maintenance or retrofitting.

Many of our products are available with anti-corrosive V2A screws or do not consist of any metallic parts at all which qualifies them for offshore use as well.

The icotek cable entry components comply with important approvals and standards like IP and UL rated protection, UL recognition, DNV, RINA or UV resistance which makes icotek a strong and reliable partner for the wind energy industry.