Dedicated experts in offshore engineering WINDPOWER 1/2 Horns Reef - offshore wind farm Customer: DONG Energy The project This wind farm is located on a reef off the western coast of Denmark. Although the water depth is only 6 m, it is one of the harsher parts of the North Sea with high winds, extreme tidal flow, and rapid current. The wind farm is one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world. The main transformer platform on Horns Reef is unmanned. The whole wind farm is monitored and controlled from an onshore control centre. This fact calls for highly reliable control and communication systems. Semco Maritime with its longterm experience in construction and service of offshore oil and gas production facilities was an obvious partner for the developers of the Horns Reef wind farm. Semco Maritime was awarded the contract for design and supply of the low voltage switchboards and monitoring system for the platform. Technical description Low voltage switchboards, PLC switchboards, UPS systems The main electrical energy supply is naturally generated by means of the wind. Emergency power, however, is also required. The electrical distribution system consists of two main distribution panels. The main distribution panels can also be fed from a diesel generator. The two emergency switchboards are powered through two separate UPS systems with battery backup. The PLC panels, 110VDC, 24VDC and 12VDC chargers as well as the low voltage panels are installed in the low voltage container. Since the platform is unmanned, the PLCs control and monitor almost all systems. They interface to the weather station, the fire detection system and the onshore Scada system. Fire detection and fire fighting systems The fire detection system chosen for the project was an addressable system with software based operating station. The operator station was installed at the onshore facility. To allow interface to the Scada system, the fire detection system as well as the two control and monitoring PLCs communicate through a Modbus protocol. This signal is converted in a Modbus to OPC converter installed onshore. Two separate loops were installed throughout the platform for interface to the addressable detectors. On the detector loops I/O units were also installed to provide automatic Country: Denmark Period: 2007 Semco Maritime www.semcomaritime.com semco@semcomaritime.com November 2014 Work with us Dedicated to the energy sector, Semco Maritime is an international contracting and engineering company. For more than 30 years we have been facilitating design, fabrication, service and maintenance of our customers’ assets, providing comprehensive project management across all phases of energy projects. From turnkey engineering solutions to operation support and delivery of components, systems and solutions – we make sure our customers and partners in the energy sector experience safe, cost-efficient operations. Semco Maritime is an international company with 2000 employees and branches in Denmark, Norway, UK, UAE, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Central America and USA. For further information please see www.semcomaritime.com
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