Certification |
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 What is Wind Turbine Certification? Certification is obtained by the wind turbine manufacturer to demonstrate that a wind turbine generator system or installation (facility) meets specified standards for key elements such as identification and labeling, design, power performance, noise emissions, and structural integrity. Certification is not a warranty. But it does provide the purchaser of a wind turbine with proof that a particular wind turbine model has been
Certification is a major step in providing electric service organizations, government agencies, businesses and private individuals who plan to purchase a wind installation with assurances that the investment they are making is a wise and safe one. |
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| The NWTC's Role | The role of
NREL's Certification Program is to test and perform design reviews of wind turbines for
manufacturers who want to have their wind turbines certified by an accredited
certification agent. The NWTC has developed specific test procedures and design evaluation capabilities to obtain the information needed by certification agents. See the detailed article on the NWTC's Wind Turbine Research Program for detailed information. |
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| Role of the Certification Agent | The certification agent is
the organization that actually certifies the wind turbine. Using test and evaluation
reports provided by NREL or another certification testing organization, the Certification
Agent reviews the performance, design, operating characteristics, quality systems and
safety systems of the wind turbine to ensure that the wind turbine system meets the
requirements of standards developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission, the
International Standards Organization, and other organizations certified to develop wind
turbine standards. || Contents || |
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| Type Certification | The purpose of type
certification is to confirm that the wind turbines of a particular type (defined to
distinguish size, form, and use) are designed, documented, and manufactured in conformity
with design assumptions, specific standards, and other technical requirements. It shall
also be demonstrated that it is possible to install, operate, and maintain the turbines in
accordance with the design assumptions at a site appropriate for the type. Type
certification is applied to a series of wind turbines of the same type. The type
certification relates to four mandatory modules of assessment. These modules comprise the
major elements of the wind turbine certification process:
and the optional module:
Design evaluation includes assessment of conformance with respect to safety and performance. A final evaluation report documents the evaluation of the statements of conformity of the type certification modules and the evaluation of the manuals and the final documentation. |
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| Click on the
modules for more details on this page |
Modules
of the Wind Turbine Type Certification |
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| The elements of the
modules and their application for WTGS and small WTGS, respectively, are listed below. || Contents || |
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| Design Evaluation Conformity Elements Click on the elements for |
The objective of the
design evaluation is to examine whether the wind turbine type is designed and documented
in conformity with the design assumptions, specific standards and other technical
requirements. The design evaluation comprises the elements shown in the figure below. A
successful design evaluation is concluded with a conformity statement. Elements of the Design
Evaluation || Contents || |
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| Type Testing Conformity Elements |
The objective of the type
test is to provide data needed to verify aspects which are vital to safety and therefore
need additional experimental verification, and aspects which cannot be reliably evaluated
by analysis. The type test comprises the elements shown in the figure below. The extent of
testing shall be defined by the applicant subject to approval by the certification body on
a case by case basis. Type Testing Elements |
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| Testing of these aspects is carried out
on a representative turbine of the type to be certified. Inspection records need to be
completed prior to the tests in order to be able to demonstrate satisfactory conformity of
the turbine with design documentation. Certification tests are carried out by an accredited test laboratory (such as the NWTC) and documented in a test report. The Certification Body evaluates the test report. A satisfactory evaluation is concluded with a conformity statement. Detailed information on NREL Type Testing || Contents || |
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| Manufacturing Conformity Evaluation Elements |
The objective of the
manufacturing conformity evaluation is to assess if the specific manufactured wind turbine
is in conformity with the design specifications. For WTGS and small WTGS the conformity
evaluation shall include the following elements:
These elements together shall assure that
A satisfactory conformity evaluation is concluded with a conformity statement. ISO 9002 accreditation satisfies the requirements of this element, but is not required for certification. || Contents || |
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| Type Characteristic Measurements |
The objective of the type
characteristic measurements is to establish performance related characteristics of the
wind turbine type. These optional tests may be selected by the applicant and shall conform
to relevant IEC 1400 standards listed in the following sections. The type characteristics
measurements comprise the following test elements:
Testing of these aspects is performed out on a representative turbine of the type to be certified. Inspection records are completed prior to the tests in order to be able to demonstrate satisfactory conformity of the turbine with design documentation. The testing is concluded with a conformity statement, attesting that the tests have been carried out in accordance with the appropriate test procedures and relevant IEC 1400 standards.
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| Final Evaluation Report | The objective of the final evaluation
report is to provide documentation of the findings of all operating bodies involved in the
evaluation of the elements of the type certificate. Following examination of the mandatory
design, type test and manufacturing conformity statements and the optional type
characteristics measurement conformity statements, this evaluation shall include:
1 Note: the requirement for examination of the quality system is in general satisfied by certification that the quality system is in conformance with ISO 9001 or ISO 9002 . || Contents || |
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| Wind Turbine Type Certificate | Type certificates
according to this standard are issued for WTGS or small WTGS, i.e., wind turbines designed
and evaluated according to IEC 1400-1 or IEC 1400-2, respectively. The Type Certificate is
issued on the basis of the completeness and correctness of the final report. The type
certificate attests that conformity has been established for all mandatory modules of
assessment, as illustrated in the figure above. The Type Certificate may additionally document the assessment of one or more of the optional type characteristics measurement elements. The Type Certificate lists and identifies the standards and normative documents used. || Contents || |
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Prepared
by Updated: November 21, 2002 |
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