This week, Jeff Willis and Mark Chang oversaw the successful testing of our reconfigured braking system with the brake disc reinstalled above the generator and not below.  With all the supply chain and COVID-related worker problems, plus the holidays and a cold Texas winter, it took almost two months after discovering the problem to solve it entirely. 

Our team’s solution involved moving the brake disc from below the generator to between two couplers above the generator (see photos below). The upper coupler is disengaged from the generator shaft (notice the “spline’s” exposed teeth). This allowed the “uncoupled” preliminary brake test program to be accomplished without the connected rotor. With the successful confirmation of braking, controls, and data transmission, the rotor can be connected, the tie-down lines disconnected, and the remaining tests for commissioning can proceed.

As shown in the photos, there are two hydraulic brake calipers, one on each side of the brake disc. These brakes act as our emergency backup braking system, used if the regenerative and resistor brakes fail.

With this critical task completed, the rotor will be connected to the generator on Monday. If the weather is good (not too windy), all the testing will be completed by the end of next week and the turbine should start operating 24/7.