Electricity generation from renewable energy sources is an important contribution to climate protection and a sustainable business area. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical power via rotors and the associated drive system – of course, only when the wheels are in motion. To ensure a secure future, wind turbines must be economically viable. This requires reliable and continuous operation, even under adverse weather conditions. With sophisticated separation solutions, Filtration Group Industrial creates the conditions for this and offers the use of flexible and efficient solutions.
GLOBAL TECH I OFFSHORE WIND GMBH
Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH operates the 400 megawatt North Sea wind farm Global Tech I, whose business and power plant operations are managed from Hamburg. The protection of the marine environment and the safety of shipping are important factors in the selection of a wind farm site. 80 wind turbines with a capacity of 5 megawatts are installed at Global Tech I on an area of 41 square kilometers. The turbines without rotors have a total height of approximately 132 meters above the seabed and a water depth of 40 meters. Renewable energies are conquering the market, and wind power is becoming a mainstay of the energy transition. The Global Tech I offshore wind farm alone produces enough electricity for 450,000 households.
Challenge
PERFECTLY SOLUTION
The transformer platform is the link between the individual wind turbines of a wind farm. Since it is either located in the sea or occasionally exposed to rain, sea spray and rainwater accumulate on the wind farm's transformer platform. This mixes with various oils from leaks and throttles. To protect the oceans, the water cannot be returned unfiltered to the North Sea; it must be filtered, a process that must also be monitored using highly sensitive measurement equipment. A bilge water separator from Filtration Group Industrial (formerly MAHLE Industriefiltration) was therefore installed on the platform to clean the water in accordance with applicable environmental regulations. Separating oils and solids are collected in a container.
Solution statement
- Bilge alarm units are reliable aids in the specialized field of "oil-in-water measurements" for monitoring and limiting oily wastewater in shipping.
- Our customer Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH uses a 15 ppm bilge alarm monitor offshore. The OMD-24 series device complies with the current regulations of IMO Resolution MEPC.107(49).
- The device is equipped with two preset alarms at 15 ppm. If an alarm setpoint is exceeded, the alarms are displayed on the front panel and the corresponding relays are activated. If a malfunction occurs, the system LED on the front of the device changes from flashing green to steady red. A status input to the bilge water separator is required to log the data accordingly.
Customer solution
- Innovative technologies and proven processes deliver optimal results in bilge water separation. Therefore, Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH has relied on bilge water separators from Filtration Group Industrial for many years.
- Bilge water separators from Filtration Group Industrial meet the required standards with a separation efficiency of 5 ppm residual oil content.
- The system is based on the proven coalescer process, which utilizes the different physical properties of oil and water. It ensures reliable, fully automatic separation of oil from process water.
- The continuous availability of a system is key to high productivity and effectiveness. The FILCOM logistics concept ensured efficient and rapid supply of spare parts for the customer's bilge alarm unit.