The DGITM is an inverter controlled dynamic load used to siphon excess wind energy away from the system. This can be to a useful load, such as water heating or desalination (as currently used at Mawson in Antarctica), or into a dump load.
When operated with a Low Load Diesel, the DGITM ensures system integrity during abnormal grid conditions. For example, following a feeder trip or other sudden load loss the DGITM will ensure that the LLDTM does not operate in reverse power. In this application, the excess wind energy is fed into the cooling system of the LLDTM until the wind turbine has had time to pitch its blades and lower its power output.
Such energy control is vitally important with low load diesel operation in a wind/diesel or wind/gas power system.
Another example is when a single large turbine is used on a wind/diesel project. Using a larger wind turbine can be beneficial as the cost per kw installed can be lower than for small turbines. However, a larger machine can have very large swings in power output due to natural variations in wind speeds. Such variations could affect the operation of the power station, but the DGITM prevents this from occurring.
Including a DGITM in your diesel generator or gas engine power system will provide higher quality of supply, advanced control over the load, and lower overall cost of power generation. D&WS is currently trialling the use of a DGITM to control system frequency, a use to which the technology lends itself.
The DGITM can be used with loads from 20kW to 1000kW. The DGITM at Denham Power Station is rated at 100kW.
The DGITM is a patented product.