Moventas has announced new patent-pending, up-tower repair capabilities for GE 1.5 MW wind turbines that the company claims can save wind farm owners downtime and expense.
The company says all failed ‘low-speed’ planetary stage gears and bearings in most GE 1.5 MW wind turbines can now be repaired up-tower at a price that is a fraction of changing out the gearbox. In each repair, customers can opt to upgrade the boxes up-tower from through-hardened ring wheels to case-carburized ring wheels and integrated planet wheel bearings, according to Moventas.
"These repairs are going to be popular with owners who want to avoid expensive cranes and their associated delays," says James Macik, who leads the product development of all new up-tower repairs for Moventas Americas.
Moventas has also added workshop repair capability in its new Midwest regional repair facility in St. Paul, Minn. The St. Paul facility is Moventas' fourth in North America, with the others located in Oregon, Texas and Ontario.
