Case study Paragliding Holland
BEGE MIG Nova encoder with LS iS7 frequency converter allows stable speed control under varying loads. Read the unique story of Paragliding Holland.
The only 4-drum winch in the Netherlands: drive technology for Paragliding Holland
Paragliding flights typically begin on the top of a mountain, where elevation help take off. The Netherlands doesn’t have those mountains, but using a winch launch solves that problem: a system that pulls the paraglider into the air using a cable and drum, making it possible to fly practically every weekend, even across flat Dutch terrain.
Such a winch launch installation exists in Schalkwijk, the Netherlands and makes this possible for Paragliding Holland. It features 4 drums and represents a unique feature in all of the Netherlands. This installation requires drive technology responding to varying load. BEGE supplied the drive system for this installation.
Challenge
For many years, Paragliding Holland flew using old car engines that had been in service for about 35 years. These engines were equipped with a differential and a fluid coupling. The current generation of engines operates slightly differently, which meant they could not be installed as replacements. The club had two of these systems in use, each with two drums.
Spare parts were becoming scarcer and malfunctions were increasing, resulting in regular breakdowns on flying days. Most new winches on the market today are electric, but a thorough market survey failed to identify a model that met all requirements. Paragliding Holland sought a reliable alternative for powering the 4-drum winch. One they could build themselves using the expertise available within their own club.
Approach
The team of volunteers turned out to have a wealth of experience: design, 3D engineering, construction, control systems, and knowledge of variable-frequency drives. Enough to build their own winch.
The team designed and built a prototype equipped with a single drum. The biggest challenge was to properly regulate the pulling force on the cable and keep it constant. No two winch pulls are the same: light pilots, heavy pilots, tandems, strong winds, gusts, varying wind layers, crosswinds, and headstrong pilots all place different demands on the drive system.
Solution
BEGE was brought in to supply the heart of the winch: an LS iS7 frequency converter with an encoder option, a PLC, and an electric motor equipped with a BEGE MIG Nova encoder.
Thanks to a sophisticated control system, each drum can be driven separately using just a single electric motor. This saves on costs and weight. This is how Paragliding Holland developed the Cloudbuster: a unique winch system with four winch drums.
Working closely with the Paragliding Holland team, the settings for the encoder and frequency converter were specifically tailored to this application: from lightweight pilots to tandem flights in strong winds. This was not a standard solution, but a custom design for this installation.
“Thanks to BEGE, we have much more control over the winch with the new drive and frequency control. We are the only ones in the Netherlands with a 4-drum winch, and we are very proud of that.”
Vincent Verbon
Paragliding Holland
Result
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The BEGE MIG Nova+ encoder continuously provides the frequency converter with information about the motor’s current position and speed. This allows the drive to respond very directly to changes in load. This is essential, especially when winching; the pulling force on the cable must remain constant, even when the pilot’s weight, the wind, or the cable load changes.
The result is a system that responds perfectly to varying loads, lifting every pilot into the air smoothly and steadily.
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Since the new system was installed, breakdowns on flying days have become virtually a thing of the past. Whereas the club used to be at the mercy of the erratic old motors, it can now fly virtually every weekend without worrying about malfunctions. Winch days proceed smoothly, with minimal disruptions.
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Two years after installation, the winch is still running smoothly and reliably. Vincent Verbon of Paragliding Holland sums up its ease of use: “We’re the only ones in the Netherlands with a 4-drum winch.” A statement that, according to him, applies just as much to the system’s reliability and user-friendly operation.
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During a visit to the club, the BEGE team took a flight using this winch. What is referred to on paper as encoder feedback and load control feels, in the air, like a smooth, controlled, and predictable launch.
Winch, hoist, or pull system
Does a winch, hoist, or pull system used in your organization reach limitations? BEGE thinks along on drive technology that keeps pace with varying load.
Used components in the solution
Does a winch, hoist, or pull system used in your organization reach limitations?
BEGE thinks along on drive technology that keeps pace with varying load.