Slip Rings for Wind Turbines

For many years, Mercotac® Brushless Slip Rings have been the top choice for a diverse range of industries and applications, including for wind turbines and wind studies, due to their various advantages, such as:

• Reduced Risk of Wire Breakage
• Permits Continuous Rotation
• Long Life Without Any Maintenance
• Capability to handle power and data signals via a single, compact brushless slip ring.
• Energy Efficient

With the recent focus on renewable energy sources, wind energy has become one of the top choices. Wind turbines harness the natural power of wind and convert it into valuable electricity. To transfer electricity from the generator in the rotating turret to the electrical cable in the stationary mast or tower, the wind energy generation industry has turned to Mercotac brushless slip rings.

These brushless slip rings offer a superior solution to the challenges posed by traditional welding cables or slip rings. Welding cables tend to unwind after twisting a limited number of times due to the change in wind direction, leading to mechanical fatigue and eventually causing degradation in cable integrity and loss of power. Meanwhile, traditional slip rings need continual maintenance to prevent degradation of the rotating electrical connection caused by normal wear and debris from rubbing contacts and are much less energy efficient.

Mercotac's no-maintenance brushless slip rings provide unlimited 360 degree rotation without wear or degradation, making them the ideal solution for wind turbines. They provide better low resistance electrical connections that eliminate the need for an active yaw control system to limit the number of turns, while also improving efficiency in the transfer of electrical power generation. In addition to transmitting electrical power, Mercotac wind turbine slip rings can also be used to reliably connect to the turbine blades, which often contain sensors for position control, vibration, or strain. It is even possible to power blade tip lights with Mercotac slip rings, making them a versatile solution for various wind energy applications.