Superior Electrical Swivels for Wind Energy

Electrical swivel connectors produced by Mercotac^® have been used successfully in the wind energy generation industry on wind turbines and windmills to transfer electricity from the generator in the rotating turret to the electrical cable in the stationary mast or tower.

Some wind energy designs simply use a rubber welding cable to transfer electricity from the generator through the stationary tower. However, a welding cable needs to unwind after twisting a limited number of times from the change in wind direction. Mechanical fatigue will eventually degrade the cable integrity and cause the loss of power from wind generation.

Alternatively, some designs will use a traditional slip ring. Traditional slip rings need continual maintenance to avoid degradation of the rotating electrical connection caused by normal wear and debris from the rubbing contacts.

Mercotac's no-maintenance rotating electrical connectors solve these problems by providing unlimited 360 degree rotation without wear or degradation. Better electrical connections through the Mercotac^® slip ring eliminates the need for an active yaw control system to limit the number of turns. They also provide greater efficiency in the transfer of electrical power generation. Mercotac^® wind turbine slip rings can also be used for reliably connecting sensors on the turbine blades to position controllers.

Shown below are some of the Mercotac^® connectors commonly used in wind turbines. Optional stainless steel ball bearings and protective Boot Kits are available.