Smart sensor systems for holistic blade health monitoring for every wind turbine

To ensure efficient and reliable power generation by wind turbines, they must be regularly maintained and inspected to detect and correct potential problems such as imbalances. Basically, there are two types of imbalances that can occur in wind turbines: mass imbalance and aerodynamic imbalance

Viele Windenergieanlagen haben mit aerodynamisch bedingten und/oder massenbedingten Unwuchten zu kämpfen. Die daraus resultierende Gesamtunwucht führt in der Regel zu erhöhten Bauteilschwingungen und kann auf Dauer erhebliche Folgeschäden und hohe Kosten verursachen. Um eine resultierende Gesamtunwucht effektiv zu reduzieren, ist es notwendig, zunächst die aerodynamische Unwucht zu ermitteln und zu verringern. Ein erster und wichtiger Schritt dazu ist es, die relativen Pitchwinkel-Abweichungen zwischen den Blättern während des Betriebs zu erfassen und daraus konkrete Korrekturanweisungen zu erhalten.

Cost efficiency, high yields and system safety are the most important factors in the operation of wind turbines. To ensure efficient operation of wind turbines even in the windiest winter months, accurate detection of icing is required.

Hoarfrost is a form of fog-frost deposition, usually thin, fragile ice needles or scales that adhere only loosely to objects and are formed almost exclusively by sublimation. The prerequisites for the formation of frost are high humidity (around 90 % or more), weak wind and temperature values generally below minus 8 °C.

How to ensure safety during icing conditions (especially with regard to ice fall and ice throw) – Ice accumulation on wind turbine rotor blades has a crucial impact on operation and maintenance. Lower return due to aerodynamic imbalances as well as safety of the power plant and its surroundings are of central importance.
Regardless of whether a wind turbine is located next to a highway or in the mountains where skiers and hikers pass by – It should be always ensured that service technicians and any trespasser are safe in any turbine operation mode.