Copenhagen Demography
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, located on the eastern coast of the island of Zealand.
Here is an overview of Copenhagen’s demography:
1. Population: Copenhagen is home to approximately 633,000 residents within the city limits. However, the larger metropolitan area, known as the Greater Copenhagen Region, has a population of around 1.3 million people.
2. Age Distribution: Copenhagen has a relatively young population compared to the national average. A significant portion of the population consists of young adults and professionals attracted to the city’s educational institutions, job opportunities, and vibrant cultural scene.
3. Diversity: Copenhagen is a diverse city with a multicultural population. It has attracted immigrants and expatriates from various countries, contributing to its cultural richness. People of different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds call Copenhagen their home.
4. Language: The official language of Copenhagen and Denmark is Danish. However, due to its international character, many residents in Copenhagen can speak English fluently. Danish language proficiency is generally high among the population.
5. Education: Copenhagen is known for its excellent education system. It is home to several prestigious universities and educational institutions, including the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark. These institutions attract both Danish and international students.
6. Employment: Copenhagen is a major economic hub in Denmark, offering a wide range of job opportunities. The city is known for its strong economy, particularly in sectors such as information technology, life sciences, design, and sustainable technologies. Many international companies and startups have their headquarters or offices in Copenhagen, providing employment opportunities for both locals and expatriates.
In the pursuit of creating a better future, cities around the world are striving to become more sustainable, livable, and resilient. Among these cities, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, stands out as a visionary model for what can be achieved in sustainable urban development. With its innovative approaches, ambitious targets, and exemplary practices, Copenhagen has earned the reputation of being the best sustainable city in the world. This article explores the key factors that have contributed to Copenhagen’s success and showcases the city’s remarkable achievements in various aspects of sustainability.
Best Sustainable City-Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark is widely regarded as one of the best sustainable cities in the world. It has consistently been recognized for its commitment to sustainability and its innovative approach to urban development.
Here are some key reasons why Copenhagen is often considered a model sustainable city:
1. Bicycling Culture
Copenhagen is famous for its extensive cycling infrastructure and high rate of bicycle usage. More than 62% of residents commute to work or school by bike. The city has dedicated bicycle lanes, bike-sharing programs, and traffic signals specifically designed for cyclists, making it safe and convenient to cycle throughout the city. This emphasis on cycling helps reduce carbon emissions and promotes a healthier lifestyle.
2. Renewable Energy
Copenhagen has set ambitious goals to become carbon-neutral by 2025. It has made significant investments in renewable energy sources, particularly wind power. The city has wind turbines both onshore and offshore, and it aims to generate enough clean energy to cover all its electricity consumption.
3. Efficient Public Transportation
Copenhagen has an efficient and well-integrated public transportation system, which includes buses, trains, and the Metro. The city encourages the use of public transport by providing reliable services and excellent connectivity. The extensive network reduces the reliance on private cars and helps reduce congestion and air pollution.
4. Urban Planning and Architecture
Copenhagen prioritizes sustainable urban planning and design. The city focuses on creating compact and walkable neighborhoods with mixed land use. It promotes green spaces, pedestrian-friendly streets, and the preservation of historical buildings. The city also incorporates sustainable design principles in new construction projects, such as green roofs, energy-efficient buildings, and rainwater harvesting systems.
5. Waste Management and Recycling
Copenhagen has a comprehensive waste management system that aims to minimize waste and maximize recycling. The city has implemented a waste-to-energy program, where non-recyclable waste is incinerated to produce heat and electricity. Additionally, residents actively participate in recycling programs, and the city has set a target to recycle 65% of its household waste.
6. Climate Adaptation
Copenhagen is proactive in addressing the challenges of climate change. The city has implemented measures to adapt to rising sea levels and increased rainfall. These include creating more green spaces, building climate-resilient infrastructure, and establishing a cloudburst management plan to handle heavy rainfall.
7. Sustainable Food and Agriculture
Copenhagen promotes sustainable food production and consumption. The city emphasizes organic and locally sourced produce, supports urban farming initiatives, and encourages plant-based diets. It has numerous organic food markets, community gardens, and rooftop farms, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Copenhagen’s commitment to sustainability has not only improved the quality of life for its residents but also positioned it as a global leader in sustainable urban development. Its holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing transportation, energy, urban planning, waste management, and more, makes it a shining example for other cities striving to become more sustainable.
Fact and Data of Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s status as the best sustainable city in the world is supported by compelling facts and data. The city aims to become carbon-neutral by 2025, an ambitious target that showcases its commitment to combating climate change. Furthermore, Copenhagen has set a goal to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.
The city has made significant progress in promoting cycling as a primary mode of transportation, with over 60% of its residents commuting by bike. Additionally, Copenhagen’s waste management system is highly efficient, with an impressive recycling rate of over 80%, demonstrating its dedication to a circular economy.
Copenhagen: A Visionary Model for the Best Sustainable City in the World
Copenhagen has captured the world’s attention with its holistic approach to sustainability, transforming itself into a model for the best sustainable city in the world. Through visionary leadership, innovative urban planning, and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, Copenhagen has become a living laboratory for sustainable urban development.
One of the key factors contributing to Copenhagen’s sustainability success is its commitment to carbon neutrality. The city has set ambitious targets to become carbon-neutral by 2025, surpassing many other global cities in the race against climate change. Copenhagen is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions through a combination of renewable energy adoption, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable transportation solutions. By prioritizing investments in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, Copenhagen has significantly reduced its reliance on fossil fuels and paved the way for a greener and more sustainable energy future.
Copenhagen’s emphasis on sustainable transportation has transformed the city’s streetscape and commuting habits. The city has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, creating a network of bike lanes, dedicated cycle tracks, and bike-friendly facilities. As a result, over 60% of Copenhagen’s residents choose cycling as their primary mode of transportation, leading to reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality, and enhanced public health. The city’s commitment to cycling is further supported by initiatives like bike-sharing programs and bike-friendly urban planning, which make cycling a safe, convenient, and enjoyable experience for residents and visitors alike.
In addition to cycling, Copenhagen boasts an efficient and well-connected public transit system. The city’s extensive network of buses, trains, and metro lines provides convenient and sustainable alternatives to private car use. By promoting the use of public transportation, Copenhagen reduces greenhouse gas emissions, eases congestion, and enhances mobility for all residents. The integration of various modes of transportation, including cycling, public transit, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, creates a multimodal transportation ecosystem that is the envy of cities around the world.
Copenhagen’s commitment to a circular economy is another key aspect of its sustainability success. The city has embraced the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling in all facets of its operations. With an impressive recycling rate of over 80%, Copenhagen has implemented comprehensive waste management systems that prioritize waste separation, material recovery, and composting. The city encourages sustainable consumption and production practices, and actively promotes the reuse and recycling of resources, minimizing waste and preserving valuable materials for future generations.
Furthermore, Copenhagen prioritizes green spaces, parks, and urban biodiversity, recognizing the importance of preserving and enhancing the natural environment within an urban setting. The city is dotted with beautiful parks, gardens, and waterfront areas that provide residents with spaces for relaxation, recreation, and connection with nature. Copenhagen’s commitment to urban biodiversity is evident in its efforts to create green roofs, plant trees, and establish wildlife habitats, ensuring that nature thrives alongside urban development. These green spaces not only contribute to the city’s aesthetic appeal but also improve air quality, mitigate heat island effects, and promote biodiversity, creating a healthier and more livable urban environment.
Copenhagen’s success as the best sustainable city in the world is not solely based on its environmental achievements but also on its dedication to social equity and quality of life. The city places a strong emphasis on social inclusion, affordable housing, and accessible public spaces. Copenhagen’s neighborhoods are designed to be inclusive, walkable, and vibrant, fostering a sense of community and belonging. The city also prioritizes education, healthcare, and cultural amenities, ensuring that all residents have access to essential services and opportunities for personal growth.
The remarkable achievements of Copenhagen are a result of collaborative efforts among various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, community organizations, and citizens. The city has fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration, encouraging partnerships that drive sustainable initiatives forward. By engaging citizens in decision-making processes, promoting sustainability education, and supporting grassroots initiatives, Copenhagen has empowered its residents to actively contribute to the city’s sustainable development.
Conclusion Copenhagen: A Visionary Model for the Best Sustainable City in the World
Copenhagen stands as a shining example of a visionary model for the best sustainable city in the world.
Through its commitment to carbon neutrality, sustainable transportation, circular economy practices, green spaces, and social inclusion, the city has achieved remarkable milestones in its pursuit of a more sustainable and livable urban environment. Copenhagen’s success is not only measured by its environmental accomplishments but also by its commitment to social equity, quality of life, and citizen engagement.
As cities around the world strive to address pressing environmental challenges and create sustainable futures, Copenhagen serves as an inspiration and a testament to what can be achieved through visionary leadership, innovative solutions, and collaborative efforts.
https://www.exaputra.com/2023/05/copenhagen-visionary-model-for-best.html
Renewable Energy
Pride Flags
To me, a pride flag says, “We accept LGBTQ people, and we bear them no malice.”
That seems just fine.
Renewable Energy
Trump’s “Dumbest” Lie
The fellow in this video asserts that Donald Trump’s dumbest lie is that the cost of things like gas and groceries have fallen since he took office, since it is so provably false, and is directed the MAGA base.
I’ll grant that the typical Trump supporter doesn’t care if the president is all over the Epstein files, or that the war with Iran was stupid and illegal. But there is no evidence that there is any more than a trickle of disaffection over consumer prices.
Renewable Energy
MotorDoc Finds Bearing and Gearbox Faults in Minutes
Weather Guard Lightning Tech

MotorDoc Finds Bearing and Gearbox Faults in Minutes
Howard Penrose of MotorDoc joins to discuss current signature analysis, uptower circulating currents wrecking main bearings, and full drivetrain scans in minutes. Reach out at info@motordoc.com or on LinkedIn.
Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!
Howard Penrose: [00:00:00] Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining light on wind energy’s brightest innovators. This is the progress powering tomorrow.
Allen Hall: Howard, welcome back to the program.
Howard Penrose: Hey, thanks for having me.
Allen Hall: It’s about time everybody realizes what motorDoc can do. There’s so much technology, and I’ve been watching- Yeah … your Chaos and Caffeine podcast on Saturday morning, which are full of really, really good information about the motorDoc as a company, all the things you’re doing out in the field, and how you’re solving real-world problems, not imaginary ones- Yeah
real-world problems. Oh, yeah. Yeah, and
Howard Penrose: whatever annoys me that week. Exactly. And, and whatever great coffee I’m trying out. Yes. Except for a few. We’ve had the ReliaSquatch down our- Yes … um, a couple of times. Uh, yeah, no, I, I enjoy it, and we gotta get you on there sometime. I don’t do- I, it- … a lot of interviews other than an AI character we put in.
Allen Hall: It’s a very interesting show because you’re [00:01:00] getting a little bit of comedy and humor and s- Yeah … and a, and a coffee review, which is very helpful because I’ve tried some of the coffees that you have reviewed, that you’ve given the thumbs up to. But if you’re operating wind turbines and you’re trying to understand what’s happening on the drivetrain side, on the generator, everything out to the blades even, main bearings, gearboxes- Yeah
all those rotating heavy, expensive parts, there’s a lot of ways to diagnose them-
Howard Penrose: Yes …
Allen Hall: that are sort of like we can look at a gear, we can look at a joint, we can look at roller bearings, whatever, but motorDoc has a way to quickly diagnose all of that chain in about- Yeah … 15 seconds.
Howard Penrose: Well, a little longer than 15 sec- more like a minute.
A minute, okay. It feels like paint drying. But- Uh, in any case, yeah. Uh, uh, and, and what’s kind of funny is, um, back in the ’90s, uh, EPRI actually accidentally steered the technology away from its [00:02:00] core purpose, which was in 1985, um, NAVSEA, the US Navy, had done research on using current signature analysis for looking at pumps, fans, and compressors, the bearings, the belts, the components, all the rotating components using the motor as the sensor.
Not too much different than we are now. I mean, mind you, we got better resolution now, we’ve got, uh, more powerful– I mean, I look at my data from the ’90s, and now it’s completely different. Um, and then Oak Ridge National Lab, same thing, bearings and gears in motor-operated valves. So in 2003, we were the first ones to apply electrical and current signature analysis to some wind turbines in the Mojave Desert.
Wow. Yeah. So, um, nobody had tried it before. Everybody said it couldn’t be done. And, uh, that was a bad thing to say to me because- … it meant I was gonna get it [00:03:00] done. Right. At that time, um, we were looking at bearing issues and some blatant conditions with the, um, with the, uh, generator using a technology called Altest, ’cause I was with Altest at the time.
And, uh, I had taken an EMPath software and blended it with a, a power analyzer, and they still have that tool to this day. I was using that technology all the way through 2015. 2016, I should say. And then- And then switched over to the pure EMPath, which was more of an engineering tool. And then more recently, in 2022, uh, made the decision to ha- to take all the work we’d done on over 6,000 turbines, uh, looking at how we were looking at the data and what we were doing on the industrial side, and took a, uh, created a current signature analyzer that would do one phase of current to analyze the entire powertrain.
Allen Hall: So when you tell [00:04:00] operators you can do this magic, I think a lotta times they gotta go, “
Howard Penrose: What?” Oh, yeah, yeah. They don’t understand it because they’re used to vibration- Right … which is a point analysis system. Right.
Allen Hall: Vibration at this- Yeah … particular location. Yeah. One spot- Even if it’s- … or a couple
Howard Penrose: spots
triax, they’re reading through material, up through a transducer. Hopefully, they put it above the bearing and not in the middle of the machine like everybody is now, because everybody’s trying to sell a sensor. Right. True. They’re not selling a- they’re not selling accuracy. They’re just selling sensors.
Right. So, um- Yeah … you know, uh, I, I’ll, I’ll even talk about one of the companies here. We’ve got Onyx here, and they do it right. I mean, they’ve been doing it right pretty well because we’ve been doing some of the same towers they’re on, and we can match the data they’re getting. Oh, good. Right? Yeah. Uh, so but they get it in multiple spots, and there’s areas they can’t quite reach, so we’ll detect those areas as well.
So it’s a good melding of two technologies.
Allen Hall: Oh, sure. Sure,
Howard Penrose: sure. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So when you have electrical signature and you have vibration, but in [00:05:00] cases if you don’t have vibration, we’re a direct replacement.
Allen Hall: Because the generator- I
Howard Penrose: dare say that.
Allen Hall: Yeah. Whichever–
Howard Penrose: I dare say that, um, with- Well, the
Allen Hall: generator is acting as the sensor.
Howard Penrose: The air gap. The air gap in the generator s- specifically, yes. Yeah. Generator, motor, transformer. Right.
Allen Hall: Yeah. So any of those- Mm-hmm … you can clamp onto, look at the current that’s on there. Everything that’s happening on the drivetrain, in the gearbox, out on the rotor- Yep … main bearings, all of that creates vibration.
Creates a torque. T- a, a torque. Yeah. Yes, more exactly a torque. Yeah. And that’s seen in the generator, in the current coming out of the generator. Yes. So those signals, although minute, are still there. Yes. So if you clamp onto that current coming out of the generator, you’ll see the typical AC sine wave sitting there.
But on top of that- Is all the information about how that drivetrain is doing
Howard Penrose: Absolutely, and everything else. Anything electrical comes through [00:06:00] that. So what you do is just like vibration, you do a spectral analysis. So every component has a frequency associated with it, just like vibration. It’s, as a matter of fact, I, I keep having to try to explain to people electrical and current signature analysis is no different than vibration analysis.
It’s the same concept. We use the same tools. The signature looks just a little different. It’s a little noisier, um, but you need that noise in order to see everything. But we have a time waveform, and instead of, um, inches per second or millimeters per second, whatever, you know, uh, velocity, acceleration, and displacement, uh, what we end up with is decibels is the optimal method.
You can look at straight voltage signatures at those points or, or current signatures, but the values are so small that you have to look at it from a logarithmic standpoint. Right. There are some benefits to it versus vibration, and there’s some things that aren’t as good as vibration. [00:07:00] So, you know, we, we do…
You have to… Any technology is gonna have their strengths and weaknesses. Sure. So we will see everything all at once. Load doesn’t matter. Right. Speed doesn’t matter. It’s… Only reason speed matters is the location of the frequencies. Uh, so the higher the resolution, meaning the longer you take data, the less chance you have on a lightly lo- loaded machine of blending the peaks together.
Right. Um, on the flip side, if I have two bearings turning at the exact same speed, I couldn’t tell you which one it is. Because they’re the same. Right.
Allen Hall: And the mechanical features of that bearing is w- what creates the signal that you’re measuring. Exactly. So if a bearing has five rollers versus 10, just imaginary thing.
Yeah, yeah. Five rollers versus 10 has a different electrical signature, so you can determine, like, that bearing, that 10 roller bearing- Yes … has the problem, the five is fine. Yes. Yeah. That’s the magic, and I think people don’t translate the mechanical world into the electrical world. That that’s what’s [00:08:00]happening.
They,
Howard Penrose: they don’t because, because what’s happening is they named it wrong.
Allen Hall: Yes.
Howard Penrose: A majority of our users are mechanical folks. Sure. Our vibration analysts and stuff like, ’cause they know how to look at the signatures. Right. Everybody tries to force it on their electrical people, and electrical people go, “We don’t know what this is.”
Yeah. And it’s, it’s, it’s a matter of that training and, and, you know, in the electrical world, you’re not taught to look at that. Right. Yeah. It doesn’t matter. Mechanical world, you’re taught to look at that. So our intern, we were trying to bring in electrical engineering interns and found out that just wasn’t working.
So last year, I brought in my first, uh, intern that’s, you know, he’s been with us now since I brought him in. Okay. Uh, and, uh, Amar, and, uh, you know, he’s helped us develop our vi- uh, vibration software to go along with it. Guess what? It’s the same thing. It’s the exact same sy- system Um, but we just take in a vibration signal instead.
But he picked up on it immediately as a [00:09:00] third-year college student. I can take somebody with a decade as an electrical engineer with a PhD and they can’t figure it out.
Allen Hall: Well, because you’re, you’re taking real- Because it’s different. Yeah. It’s r- well, it’s real-world components-
Howard Penrose: Yeah …
Allen Hall: creating electrical signals.
That’s hard- Well, you have- … to process for a lot of people. Yeah,
Howard Penrose: yeah. It’s
Allen Hall: just not
Howard Penrose: something that we do every day. But that’s… If they, i- if we sa- i- i- if you’re looking at vibration and you start looking at the sensor, it gets complicated too, ’cause guess what? It’s an electrical signal. Right. It’s, it is technically electrical signature now.
It’s converting a
Allen Hall: mechanical signal- Right … into an electrical signal, which is what’s happening in the generator anyway. Yeah.
Howard Penrose: Whether it’s a piezoelectric cell that’s generating a small signal- Yeah … on top of a small waveform that you then take out, you demodulate, uh, or it’s, uh… So you take that carrier frequency out, or it’s a MEMS sensor, which is the same thing.
You know, the, it just sees some slower s- It, it does more of a digital output. So you, you, you know, you have those, or you [00:10:00] have this, which just basically uses a component of the machine to, to, as its own sensor. There is one other difference between them, too, and, uh, I find this very useful when I’m going out troubleshooting something that other people can’t figure out, uh, ’cause we use all the technologies.
So in this case, it would be, uh, the structural movement. Okay? So, so say I have a generator and there’s something wrong with the structure, and the whole machine is vibrating. So y- well, if I put a transducer on it, they might think that’s vibration or something else. We don’t see it. Right. We only see directly exactly what’s happening with the machine.
Sure. So a lot of times when we go in to troubleshoot something that people have done vibration on and everything else, it’s been pro- a, a problem for them for years. We walk in, and all of a sudden we’re identifying whether it’s the machine or it’s something else right off the bat. Then we can take a look at the vibration data and [00:11:00] say, “Okay, it wasn’t the bearing or the bearing, um, structure.
It was, you know, the mounting.” Right. It wasn’t
Allen Hall: fastened
Howard Penrose: down properly. Yeah,
Allen Hall: yeah. Right.
Howard Penrose: Go tighten that bolt. Right, exactly.
Allen Hall: Well, I mean, that’s the cheap answer. Yeah. I’d rather tighten a bolt than rip apart a motor or a generator- And, and- … every day …
Howard Penrose: and that’s the whole point. Now, there are other strengths that go with it.
So for instance, on the powertrain of a wind turbine, I can tell you if you’ve lubricated the bearings correctly. Wow. Because part of what we do is we do take those electrical signatures, and we convert those over to watts. Watts is an energy conversion. Sure. So you see that as heat or some type of loss.
So whatever, whatever’s being lost there is not being sent to the customer. To the outside. Right. Making money. So, um, if I’m taking a look at, say, a main bearing, I might see watts or kilowatts of losses. So you’re gonna have some ’cause you have friction, right? But when we see it increase on, say, a roller, [00:12:00] or the rollers, or, or the cage, that’s usually an indicator that I have a lubrication issue.
Or if we only see it on the outer race, that means that they didn’t clear out all the old grease when they were lubricating it, ’cause the rollers then have to ride across it- Right … ’cause it dries up.
Allen Hall: Sure.
Howard Penrose: Uh, and will carry contaminants. So if you see that, you go up, clean it up, you’ll extend the life of the bearing.
Absolutely you will. Without having to do a lot of work. So, uh, we, we look at our technology as more so early in the, in the stage of a condition. I don’t wanna call it failure, ’cause it’s not a failure. It’s something that’s mitigable. And I made that word up. You can mitigate it. Meaning you can go up and correct it and extend the life of that component.
Sure. Uh, in gearboxes we’ll see problems with, um… Well, the, the one we’re talking about here a fair amount is all the circulating currents going on uptower. We did that research. The current signature analyzer we have is a direct result of doing wind turbine [00:13:00] research just on circulating currents uptower, ’cause we conferred everything over to, to sound at 48 kilohertz.
And so that gives me a 24-kilohertz signal. That high-frequency stuff, which we’re researching in CGRE, and IEEE, and IEC, is called supra harmonics, which I– we talked about that before. Yes, we have. Yeah. And, uh, so when you start seeing that in the, in, in the current that’s circulating uptower because the ground that goes from the top of the tower down is for- DC
lightning protection. And lightning protection, yeah. It’s not meant for, um- Not for
Allen Hall: high frequency- Yeah …
Howard Penrose: currents. Yeah. Uh, we, when we measured it, when we mapped out dozens of towers of all different manufacturers, we found that the impedance about halfway down the tower is where it ends. Sure. The, the resistance.
And then the increased, uh, the high-frequency noise turns any of your shaft brushes into resistors. And at about 15 kilohertz, no current is [00:14:00]passing through them. It’s all passing the bearing, which becomes more conductive the higher the frequency. So with 60% of main bearings failing due to electrical currents, it’s actually currents that are circulating uptower.
It’s not static. There is some static up there, but it’s not static. It’s coming from the controls, the, the generator, and everything else. Inverters,
Allen Hall: converters.
Howard Penrose: And we’ve seen up to 150 amps passing through a, through a bearing.
Allen Hall: So I– We run across a lot of operators who have been replacing main bearings, and they don’t know the reason why.
Yeah. And I always say, “Well, call Howard at MotorDoc because I would almost bet you you have the f- high frequency running around uptower in the nacelle- And the next main bearing you put in there is gonna go the same way as the- Yeah … first one you put in there. Until you cut off that circulating current and then the cell, you’re just gonna continue with the problem.
Then you haven’t eliminated the problem, you’re just fixing the result of that problem. Yes. But it takes- Yeah, you’re, you’re- How, [00:15:00] how, well, how long- You’re replacing
Howard Penrose: a fuse.
Allen Hall: Right, you’re replacing a fuse. Yeah. How long does it take you to s- to determine- An expensive fuse. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah, ’cause you’re taking the rotor down.
Yeah. Well, how, how fast can you determine if you have harmonics uptower that are gonna be causing you problems? 120 seconds.
Howard Penrose: Okay.
Allen Hall: So that’s the thing. I think a lot of- I mean,
Howard Penrose: that’s of the actual data collection time. So you clamp on uptower, uh, and then you can… Well, the way we have it set up now, you just tell it you wanna collect data every five s- uh, five minutes, and then you go downtower, let it collect its data, go back up, grab it.
Um, it’s like…
It’s huge. It’s this size. So, um, and then you connect- It plugs into a laptop. Yeah. Plug it into a laptop or any type of tablet. Um, it, it’s Windows now. I’m trying to get away from Windows. We’re gonna have Linux systems, uh, as well. Uh, and then you use that to, um, just collect that data, and then you press another button.
Now it pops up, and it tells you if you’re in danger or not, [00:16:00] the amount of current passing through the bearing, and the frequencies all the way out.
Allen Hall: So the ideal is you’re gonna have this kit with you in the truck. Yeah. And as you see these problems pop up, you’re gonna clamp on uptower. Yep. You’re gonna measure these circulating currents, and you’re gonna know immediately if you have another mechanical issue, a, a lubrication issue- Oh, yeah.
It’ll look at- … some kind of alignment issue, or- You’ll get all
Howard Penrose: of this information at once. So you- Right … if you go on the power side. So certain turbines, like anything that has the transformer downtower, you don’t have to climb. Right. GE. I mean, I don’t climb. So, uh, uh, you know, th- and that was part of the, the concept behind when we started down this path because I’ve been in the wind industry since 1997.
So one of the things I always saw was, and, and we talked about even, you know, here when it was called AWEA, and we were talking always on the health and safety side about wearing out the technicians. Um, so we discovered that, you know, what was it? Almost 60% of the [00:17:00] turbines you didn’t have to climb. Right.
Oh, yeah. And even the ones you do, you go up, you set it up, and it’ll tell you where you need to focus. The other thing in the powertrain, let alone the generator, when we do a sweep of a site– Now, if we do a straight electrical signature analysis, I’d term that one as a technician’s tool. Sure. That’s more of an engineer’s tool.
Uh, a lot more data, a lot harder to set up. But even though I’m saying harder to set up, it’s still pretty easy. It’s still minutes. Right. Yeah. Most technicians will collect data with, like, a couple hours worth of training. Yeah. You g- You basically gather that data, and if you’re getting a site, so we’ll go out– I love going out in the field.
So we’ll go out in the field, especially if it’s a tower we don’t have to climb I’ll knock out, uh, well, let’s just say I’ll, I’ll, I’ll name one. Say a GE 1.6. I’ll knock out one of those every eight to 11 minutes, depending on how you get to the tower.
Allen Hall: So that’s a full diagnosis of drivetrain- Yeah … plus anything odd happening- Yep
with circulating currents and all that [00:18:00] can- Oh, no, no. Circulating- Or just- … current, that’s a- That’s a separate thing at tower … separate study that- Okay … you have to do that uptower. But anything, anything drivetrain-wise, you can be in and out- Yeah … in a couple of minutes. Yep. Okay. So there’s a lot of operators that have end-of-warranties coming up, right?
Yes. There’s been a lot of developments, so they’re kind of running into the end-of-warranty, and they don’t know the health status of their drivetrain. Same thing for a lot of operators that are in- Yep … full service agreements, and they’re questioning whether they’re getting their money’s worth or not.
Yes. I always say, “Call Howard at Motordoc. You guys can have a whole site survey done maybe in a couple of days, and you will know all the problems that are on site for the lowest price ever”. Yeah. It’s crazy how fast you can do it and how accurate it is. I talk to operators that use your system, so I hear you.
Yeah. Your podcast, listen to your podcast, I’m calling your customers to find out what they say, and they love it. Oh, yeah. They can’t believe how accurate it is. Yeah. Well, the thing about that is we as an industry need to make sure that our turbines are operating at [00:19:00] maximum efficiency. Yep. And if a simple tool like the Motordoc EMPath system exists, we need to get customers, operators in line to start doing it worldwide.
Australia- Oh … Europe-
Howard Penrose: Yeah. We- … Canada. Australia, we’re trying to get into, but right now we even have OEMs using it through North- That’s good … and South America, Asia. Good. Uh, Middle East, um, and, uh, and some of Europe. Good. So it’s, it’s, it’s really taking off. Uh, I’d say probably our biggest market right now is Brazil.
Sure. They’re going crazy. Well, the, the turbines are- They’re having a lot of problems. Yeah.
Allen Hall: Right. And the, well, those turbines have a h- high usage, right? So because- Oh, yeah … the winds are so good, they’re operating at, like, capacity factor is above 50%. Yes. It’s insane. Yeah. So there’s a lot of wear and tear.
There’s no downtime for those turbines.
Howard Penrose: Yeah. Well, and, and people think it’s all the starting and stopping. It’s not. No. It’s a grid-related issue. So we have- Sure … we have a low frequency. And you know some of the stuff I volun- I, I’m, I’ve been volunteered for- [00:20:00] Yeah … uh, including the CIGRE thing. Um, so I get to sit in the grid code committees for IEEE and put my, and our input into that, uh, and kind of watch the back of the IBR industry, right?
Mm-hmm. ‘Cause there’s a definitely bias against our industry. Um, and I also, uh, get to hear what’s going on in the grid side of things from CIGRE worldwide, and it’s all very similar, and it has to do with low-frequency oscillating currents- Yes … called subsynchronous currents- Yes … which are low enough not to damage large synchronous machines.
And they thought, and there’s books written on this, by the way, multiple books written on wind turbine impact- Uh, and they’re seeing now, um… Well, we detected it first, along with Timken. Hank, uh, and, and I went out to a site, and we detected for the first time, because of how they wanna do the testing and where the site was located, we saw the oscillating torque [00:21:00] in the air gap, ’cause that’s one of the things the technology does.
It actually measures the torque, air gap torque. Sure. So we were watching the oscillating torque as a tower started up. And so we did, we went through the rest of that site looking at the same stuff in the same way. It increased our time and data collection, and time on site. But then we started looking for it at other sites, and going to pass data because I don’t have to go back and retake data.
Right. And we’re like, “Oh my God. It’s everywhere.” 16 hertz, 21 hertz, and 50 hertz. And we found a paper that specifically identified that as the sub synchronous frequencies for 60 hertz. So we know what they are also for 50 hertz. Once we identified that and we saw how much the torsi- torque was oscillating, we worked with Shermco, who got us some information on Y-rings that were failing.
Yeah. And they were all failing… When the metallurgy was done, they were all failing from fatigue. And you’re like, fatigue how? What’s fatiguing these connections? [00:22:00] Well, the fatigue is that air gap torque- Exactly … because you’re basically causing the, the, everything to oscillate a little bit, and that causes the windings to move slightly.
It’s a living,
Allen Hall: breathing machine-
Howard Penrose: Exactly … this generator
Allen Hall: is.
Howard Penrose: Yeah.
Allen Hall: It’s not
Howard Penrose: static. It’s definitely not sta- no electric machine is static. No. Even a transformer’s not static. Right.
Allen Hall: So- There’s a little
Howard Penrose: bit of wiggle going on there all the time All the time. And it’s minute, so it takes a long time. Right. And what, uh, uh, everybody…
Well, first people thought it was a particular manufacturer, which it wasn’t. Turned out every defig’s failing the same way. Sure. You’re fatiguing it. Yeah. Every bearing is failing the same way, even in the gearbox, main bearings, and everything else. Right. All of these conditions are happening across all the OEMs, but they’re not allowed to talk.
Well, this is, this is the thing that
Allen Hall: I like watching your podcast.
Howard Penrose: Yeah.
Allen Hall: The Chaos and Caffeine. It comes out Saturday mornings. It’s on YouTube. If you haven’t- Yeah … clicked into it, you should click into it
Howard Penrose: because a lot of these issues are discussed there. It’s definitely, um… [00:23:00] Let’s just say I’ll speak Navy quite a bit.
Allen Hall: It’s a great podcast, and I think what you’re doing with the EMPath system- Yes … at motor dock is really a game changer. Yeah. I’m talking to everybody, all the operators I know. I keep telling them to call you and to try the system out because it’s so inexpensive and it does the work quickly and efficiently, and it’s been proven.
There’s no messing- Oh, yeah … around when you’re talking to MotorDoc. I…
Howard Penrose: Somebody dared tell me that there’s no standard for it. There’s ISO standards for it. Yes. There’s IEEE 1415- Yes … which I chair. Uh, and there’s other standards coming out- This is- … associated with it. And there’s a document that I also chair for Sea Gray- Called A178, which is the practical application of the technology.
So it’s well-documented. There are traceable standards for it. I need more
Allen Hall: operators to call you- Yeah … and to talk to you and get systems in the back of the trucks that they can use to check out the health of their gear boxes and their drive trains and their generators. How [00:24:00] do they do that? Where do they go?
Where, where’s, what’s- Well- … the first place they should look for?
Howard Penrose: Uh, info@motordoc.com. Okay. I get all, I get all of those as well, so do my people. Um, or, uh, LinkedIn. LinkedIn’s really good.
Allen Hall: Look up anything. Yeah.
Howard Penrose: Yeah, yeah. So, so either the company at Motordoc, or, uh, I’m, I sh- I’ll show up either searching for my name or, uh, linkedin.com/in/motordoc.
Come straight to me ’cause I’ve been in, on LinkedIn forever, so- Right, just- … I got to do that … look up
Allen Hall: Howard Penrose, P-E-N-R-O-S-E. Yep. Or go to motordoc.com is- Yep, motordoc.com … the website address.
Howard Penrose: Yep. There’s a lot of great information there. And we have partners, and we have people. We’re growing the company.
You know, talk to me. I, I’ll- Yes … I like answering the phone and talking. It’s, it’s a thing. My people go, “Can we answer the phone one?” No. Um, but, but yeah, we, we, y- when you call us, you’re not just dealing with a single person. Right. The Motordoc is far more expansive. Right now, we [00:25:00] just got our partnership with, uh, Hitachi and, and Juliet- Yeah, that’s great
and stuff like that. Uh, we’re helping them with certain things. Uh, we’re partnered with some of the big OEMs, almost all of them, um, you know, helping identify the issues, you know. And, and when users contact us, often they’ll tell us what’s going on, and we’ll, we can, uh, sometimes say, “Yeah, it’s this, and here’s how we prove it.”
Allen Hall: Yeah. That’s the, that’s the beauty- Yeah … of calling Motordoc. So I need my operators that, that watch the show- Yeah … worldwide, go online, go on LinkedIn, get ahold of Howard, get ahold of Motordoc, and get started. Yep. Howard, thank you- And- … so much for being on the podcast. Yeah. This is fantastic. I love talking to you because-
it’s, it’s like talking to, you know… Uh, no, really, it’s talking like someone who’s a real good industry expert, who’s been there a long time, and understands- Yeah … how this
[00:26:00] works.
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