HERMES AWARD

HERMES AWARD goes to Voith Turbo Wind
The Voith Turbo Wind company, based in Crailsheim, Germany, has been declared the winner of the HERMES AWARD 2009. An independent jury selected the company on the basis of its newly developed mechatronic drive system allowing for the highly dynamic speed control of wind turbine rotors.

Environmentally friendly wind turbines are producing a growing share of electric power. To feed the power grid through synchronous generators, the variable wind speed needs to be converted to a constant output speed. The WinDrive system represents the first time a highly dynamic variable transmission has been applied to the drive train of a wind turbine without the use of a frequency converter. The drive system is based on a hydrodynamic converter in combination with a superimposing planetary gear stage. The system converts the variable speed of the wind turbine rotor into a constant output speed for the generator. This highly dynamic control occurs in up to 20 milliseconds, enabling the deployment of synchronous generators which directly feed the power grid. The ability to dispense with a frequency converter results in a considerable reduction in weight. The system is highly reliable with an extremely low failure probability and excellent feed qualities to the electrical grid, based on its high frequency stability and ability to equalize load peaks.

German Minister for Education and Research Annette Schavan handed over the award in the presence of German President Horst Köhler, Korean Prime Minister HAN Seung-Soo and Lower Saxony's Minister-president Christian Wulff.

Apart from prizewinner Voith Turbo Wind GmbH, the following companies were nominated for the HERMES AWARD: Bosch Rexroth AG, based in Elchingen; Compair Drucklufttechnik from Simmern/Hunsrück; Harting Electric from Espelkamp; and Thomas GmbH from Bremervörde (all locations within Germany). Both the award winner as well as the other nominated products and processes will be on display during HANNOVER MESSE 2009 (20 to 24 April) at the respective company stands. Detailed information on the five nominations for the HERMES AWARD 2009 as well as on the associated companies is also available at the innovations-focused special display entitled "techtransfer - Gateway2innovation" in Hall 2, stand D12.