Vaisala says the plug-and-play X-band can work with existing weather radar systems, as well as wind LiDARs.

In challenging terrain, it fills the gaps to reliably detect snow, rain, and other weather activity. Adding X-band radars to an existing network will also improve the accuracy of precipitation measurement, providing better data for flood warnings or detection of wind shear, wake vortices, convective weather — and even migrating birds.

“X-band radar will enhance a weather detection arsenal, making it even more reliable and accurate,” said Pekka Utela, Director, Weather Radars, Vaisala. “By developing a smaller system allowing simple site selection, as well as providing maximum weather detection sensitivity with automatic and continuous calibration, the new X-band radar will answer the challenges decision-makers face in severe weather situations.” 

The intelligence the X-band radar collects will provide significantly improved situational awareness. When integrated with other measurement systems, such as Vaisala C-band Weather Radar or wind lidar, users will get the most comprehensive, real-time data available. At airports, accurate wind shear detection, complemented by lidars, helps optimize take-off and landing sequences, as well as enhancing the safety of flight operations.

The new X-band Weather Radar provides remarkable benefits for the customer:

• Cost-efficiency — With less maintenance, fewer site visits, durable solid state transmitter and remote operation, X-band’s easy installation and calibration ensures low lifetime cost. 
• High-quality data — Increased sensitivity, improved reliability, and continuous calibration means accurate and consistent data.
• Outstanding performance — The X-band radar is designed for changing weather conditions to deliver accurate and robust measurement data with higher resolution and better precision for short-range meteorological surveillance.
• Ease of installation and integration — Easy “plug-and-play” installation and seamless integration allows the X-band to work with existing weather radar systems as well as wind lidars, brought together through Vaisala IRIS software suite.

“The intelligence provided by the unique sensitivity of the new radar will complement systems run by weather services, airports, and even maritime organizations who are monitoring conditions to protect life and property,” said Utela.

The post Vaisala launches X-band radar system for better weather detection appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

Leosphere’s WINDCUBE lidar remote-sensor provides 200m vertical wind profiles, mapping wind speed, direction, turbulence, and wind shear. Vaisala’s acquisition of Leosphere significantly strengthens its remote-sensing portfolio.

“According to the American Wind Energy Association, a record number of wind farms were under construction in the U.S. in 2018. Vaisala can now provide this burgeoning industry with the most complete suite of environmental sensing devices available,” said Matt Jones, VP, Weather and Environment Americas, Vaisala.

Lidar is a remote-sensing method that leverages pulsed laser to measure wind to the height required by modern wind turbines – a key capability of the Windcube lidars now available through Vaisala. Leosphere lidars offer a wide range of solutions to track wind speed and direction required for new wind farm planning and construction. To date, there are more than 1,400 Leosphere lidars installed worldwide.

“As turbine manufacturers continue building taller, our suite of innovative remote-sensing instruments provides reliable data for planning and operations, which can dramatically improve a project’s potential profitability for years to come.”

By redefining the use of lidar within the renewable energy space, the Leosphere Windcube suite of systems is discreet, mobile, and capable of remotely reaching greater heights to aggregate superior data for wind prospecting. The Windcube systems empower owners to increase efficiency in long-term wind energy production by enabling the potential for full rotor sweep measurement.

Vaisala offers four distinct Leosphere Windcube lidar systems:

• • Windcube Vertical Profiler: An ultra-portable lidar providing accurate wind measurements up to 200 meters, validated onshore and offshore by international standards and guidelines.

• • Windcube Scanning Wind Doppler Lidar: Offers wind measurement up to 10 kilometers, as well as multiple scanning patterns. Used for leading edge applications in wind energy, meteorology, severe weather research, vortex measurements, and real-time wind shear detection at airports.

• • Wind Iris: Mounted on wind turbine nacelles for power performance data to measure and optimize wind turbine performance. 

• • Wind Iris TC (Turbine Control): Integrated in wind turbines on and offshore. Provides real-time characterization of wind, enabling turbine manufacturers to improve wind turbine design and efficiency.

“Trusted by the FAA and the significant majority of airports across the country as well as NOAA, Vaisala is a global leader in measurement for roads, airports and the environment as well as industrial measurements,” said Jones. “The acquisition of Leosphere raises the bar in the remote sensing technology Vaisala can provide to ensure a quality investment for capital-intensive wind farm initiatives.” 

The post Vaisala adds to its remote-sensing offerings for wind developers appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.

The company, which provides environmental and industrial measurement (including lightning data), recently developed the capability to distinguish cloud-to-ground lightning strikes that contain continuing current — one of the most damaging of lighting strikes. Our conversation touches on this and more.

For further reading, please click through to this release.

To learn more about Vaisala, go here.

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