Condition Monitoring of Wind Turbines Using Non-Contact Acoustic Sensors
The reliability of drive-train components in wind turbines is still a problem. The failure of a wind turbine’s main components (i.e. gearbox, generator, etc.) usually lead to extended downtime that reduces the power generation capacity and increases the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). Vibration-based condition monitoring (CM) strategies have been widely used to reduce the downtime and schedule the maintenance programmes efficiently. However, there remain some drawbacks such as the excessive costs and intrusiveness due to contact of the accelerometers with the machinery. To solve these issues the CMDRIVE project seeks to develop a novel low cost CM solution for the drive-train based on non-contact acoustic sensors. This article describes the features of this new system including its advantages and the results of field trials in a real wind turbine.
By Juan Luis Ferrando, Senior Project Manager, Inesco Ingenieros, Spain
The Problem
Due to high competitiveness in the energy market, and because several technologies such as solar power are quickly reducing the LCOE, cost reduction is becoming crucial. For this reason, wind farm owners and manufacturers are seeking solutions to increase the reliability of their assets. Drive-train components such as generators and gearboxes are among the most critical components of wind turbines. The failure of these components incurs excessive costs, primarily due to the downtime associated with the failure. Traditionally vibration-based CM systems have been used for the diagnosis of the drive-train components of wind turbines. However, the cost of such systems is still high. This solution usually implies the installation of 8 to 12 accelerometers in the drive-train, incurring high costs and reducing the competitiveness of the wind power industry.
