Full Power Converter

Another key element of Northern Power Systems’ innovative direct drive wind turbine design is the power converter used to connect the permanent magnet generator output to the local power system. Northern Power designs and manufactures the power converters for its wind turbines in house, with complete hardware, control design, and software capabilities.

In 2006, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) awarded its annual Technical Achievement Award to Northern Power’s Chief Engineer, Jeff Petter. It recognized his expertise and leadership in the development of Northern Power Systems’ FlexPhase™ power converter for MW scale wind turbine applications. The FlexPhase power converter combines a unique, patent-pending circuit design with a high bandwidth control system to provide unique generator management, power quality, and grid support features. The FlexPhase converter platform offers a modular approach with a very small footprint and 20-year design life.

The Northern Power 100 and Northern Power 2.3 wind turbine power converters use the same advanced control system platform found in the FlexPhase platform, providing reliable and high efficiency operation even on the weak grid systems found in remote village applications.