Renewable energy
Brakes & Clutches for Renewable Energy — Wind Towers and Solar Trackers
Renewable energy installations — wind towers, solar tracker arrays, hydroelectric systems — operate in demanding environments where mechanical reliability and personnel safety are non-negotiable. The drive and lifting systems within these installations require braking and torque control solutions that perform consistently over long service intervals, often in remote or elevated locations.
EIDE manufactures FPC safety brakes, EC centrifugal brakes, and torque limiters specifically applied in wind tower elevators and solar tracker drive systems.
Wind Tower Elevators — Rack-and-Pinion Safety Brakes
Wind towers require periodic maintenance at height. Rack-and-pinion elevators are the standard solution for transporting technicians to the nacelle — climbs that can exceed 100 meters. In this application, the safety of the personnel inside the cabin depends directly on the braking system fitted to the elevator.EIDE supplies two complementary safety devices for wind tower rack-and-pinion elevators:
FPC Safety Brake — Overspeed and Free-Fall Arrest
The EIDE FPC Safety Brake is a purely mechanical device that detects overspeed through a centrifugal mechanism. When the preset tripping speed is exceeded, the brake engages directly with the rack and arrests the descent instantly — without relying on any electrical signal. An integrated monitoring switch simultaneously interrupts power to the drive system.
Available in four load ratings: FPC-500, FPC-1000, FPC-3500, FPC-6000. Tripping speed and braking torque are set by EIDE to match the specific installation parameters.
EC Centrifugal Brake — Controlled Descent on Drive Failure
The EIDE EC Centrifugal Brake addresses a specific operational requirement in wind tower elevators: in the event of motorisation failure or main brake fault, the technician inside the cabin must be able to descend to ground level in a controlled manner — not arrested, but governed.
The EC centrifugal brake operates on the principle of centrifugal force. As rotational speed increases beyond the rated threshold, friction masses overcome the retaining springs and contact the static drum, creating a speed-governing balance that maintains constant descent speed throughout the stroke. No external power supply is required — the system is self-contained and activates automatically on overspeed.
Key characteristics:
- Automatic activation on overspeed — no external power required
- Maintains constant controlled descent speed throughout the stroke
- Rated speeds: 1000, 1500, and 1800 rpm
- Mountable between motor and gearbox via IEC B5 standard flanges
- Corrosion-resistant painted exterior — suitable for outdoor and coastal environments
- Compliant with EN 1495 safety standard
The combination of FPC and EC brakes provides complete personnel protection in wind tower elevators: the FPC arrests free-fall, the EC governs controlled descent when normal operation is compromised.
Solar Trackers — Torque Limiters and Couplings
Single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers continuously adjust panel orientation to maximize energy yield. Their drive systems — typically electric actuators or gearboxes — are exposed to wind loads, mechanical shock, and operational torque variations that can damage components if uncontrolled.
EIDE torque limiters and couplings protect solar tracker drive systems by mechanically disconnecting the kinematic chain when torque exceeds the preset threshold, preventing damage to actuators, gearboxes, and structural elements — and minimizing unplanned downtime in field installations.
EIDE provides configurable solutions for wind tower elevator systems and solar tracker drive trains, with tripping parameters set to match each specific installation. Contact our technical team to discuss your application.
For more information about the products that we have at EIDE, do not hesitate to contact us.
EIDE
More applications
