WIND TURBINE OPTIMIZATION Testing, Inspection and Maintenance

Inspection of a wind turbine. Courtesy of Rope Partner, USA.

As environmental concerns escalate and the limits of fossil fuel are approached, wind power has gained momentum as a viable and cost-effective renewable energy source for the future. Maximizing Performance and Minimizing Maintenance Cost of Wind Turbines As environmental concerns escalate and the limits of fossil fuel are approached, wind power has gained momentum as a viable and cost-effective renewable energy source for the future. Greater demands on efficiency of wind turbines result in continuous improvement of design, placement and performance. Given that modern wind turbines produce in...

Ensuring Wind Turbine Blade Longevity Over the course of its lifetime, a blade is exposed to many factors that can lead to damage and fatigue. These include cyclic operational loads and gust loading, as well as icing and erosion. Ultimately, any of these factors may result in blade failure. Defects incurred during the manufacturing process, as well as damage inflicted during blade transportation, may lead to the failure or loss of turbine operation, if left undetected. Non-contact measurement systems are employed in the design, manufacture and quality assurance processes to reduce the risk of...

In-field NDT test. Courtesy of Rope Partner, USA. In-field inspection can be carried out using a portable shearography system with an integrated vacuum hood for attachment to the blade. Each measurement takes 15 seconds. Materials that shearography can inspect include glass-fiberreinforced plastic (GFRP) and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Defects including wrinkles, impact damage, delamination, dry-spots, cracks, voids, kissing bonds and much more can be detected. Shearography can inspect areas at a rate of 15 m2 per hour (160 sq ft/hr) and requires no surface preparation. An automated...

Maximizing Power Output of Wind Turbine Farms Air flow measurements around a wind turbine installation can be important for the following applications: • Blade design and aerodynamic modeling • Flow-structure interaction and flow separation • Placement of wind turbines • Impact on and effects of submerged wind turbine towers Optimizing Blade Design by Aerodynamic Modeling Blade design is critical for optimizing the aerodynamic efficiency of the turbine during light wind conditions. The design, however, must also be strong enough to withstand operational loads including gust loads. Dantec Dynamics...

Flow separation at the blade surface influences not only aerodynamic efficiency but blade noise as well. To determine the location of separation, you deploy a Constant Temperature Anemometer (CTA), which derives flow information from an array of thin film sensors attached to the blade. As the blade rotates and the wind speed varies, the separation point can be determined. Proper Placement of Wind Turbines Minimizing Impact of Submerged Wind Turbine Towers Placement of off-shore wind turbine farms requires the consideration of several factors in order to mitigate environmental impact. These include...

About Dantec Dynamics Dantec Dynamics is the leading provider of laser optical measurement systems and sensors. Since 1947 we have provided solutions for customers to optimize their component testing and products. Our large number of customers benefit from our quality solutions within: Fluid Mechanics Thermal Comfort Strain, Stress & Vibration Particle Characterization Non-destructive Testing Combustion Diagnostics Process Control Disatac Tachometers Worldwide representation From our six offices and more than 30 representatives worldwide we approach our customers individually. We examine the...