- Category: Articles
Joining Up Observation and Simulation of Wind Farms
When assessing the monthly performance of wind farms post-construction, uncertainty in assumed wake losses contributes a substantial proportion of uncertainty in the production assessment. The operational data analysis software of Lindahl now integrates the cloud-based wake model, WakeBlaster, providing a simple interface for simulating wake climate over the project operating history of a wind farm.
By Staffan Lindahl and Dr Wolfgang Schlez, UK
- Category: Articles
A Comparison between Flow Complexity Recognition and Computational Fluid Dynamics
Lidar provides a widely accepted approach to wind speed measurement. With this technology, as with other forms of remote sensing, the usual assumption is that flow is homogeneous across the entire volume of measurement. However, in complex terrain this assumption can no longer be made, especially with respect to wind speeds at different heights (see Figure 1). This article considers two different approaches to wind speed measurement in moderately complex terrain and, by way of illustration, draws upon real-world examples.
By Peter Spencer, Chief Marketing Officer, Leosphere, France
- Category: Articles
How to Make Sure that Data Analytics Generate Actual Business Value
Most industries are implementing data analytic systems, tools and platforms, and hire people to program and operate these systems. This also holds true for the wind industry, which has a strong history of collecting and storing data. However, the core data analytics are only a small part of the assembly line that is required for such activity to generate value and a positive return on investment (ROI).
By Henrik Pedersen, Siemens Gamesa, Spain
- Category: Articles
An Evaluation of Lightning Locating Systems to Prevent Risk
Wind farms are known to be particularly exposed during thunderstorms and workers on site are prone to lightning strikes. Thunderstorm warning systems are widely used to prevent lightning related accidents and are already employed in several sectors such as industry, utility networks, leisure activities, transport and civil protection. This article outlines how lightning locating systems can provide an early warning, taking into account the needs of the operators to be notified with a sufficient lead time to apply safety procedures.
By Stéphane Schmitt, Product Manager and Head of Marketing, Meteorage, France
Wind farms are known to be particularly exposed during thunderstorms and workers on site are prone to lightning strikes. Thunderstorm warning systems are widely used to prevent lightning related accidents and are already employed in several sectors such as industry, utility networks, leisure activities, transport and civil protection. This article outlines how lightning locating systems can provide an early warning, taking into account the needs of the operators to be notified with a sufficient lead time to apply safety procedures.
By Stéphane Schmitt, Product Manager and Head of Marketing, Meteorage, France
- Category: Articles
Combination of Drone Inspection and Artificial Intelligence Powered Inspection Analysis
New artificial intelligence (AI) based damage discovery technology can assist O&M organisations to detect defects and critical blade conditions through automated analysis of inspection data. Recent core enhancements in AI combined with high performance cloud-based platforms process inspection data in near real time and provide higher quality results at a lower cost when compared with human-based detection and analysis.
By Whitney Weller and Kevin Wells, AirFusion, USA
New artificial intelligence (AI) based damage discovery technology can assist O&M organisations to detect defects and critical blade conditions through automated analysis of inspection data. Recent core enhancements in AI combined with high performance cloud-based platforms process inspection data in near real time and provide higher quality results at a lower cost when compared with human-based detection and analysis.
By Whitney Weller and Kevin Wells, AirFusion, USA
- Category: Articles
Making Wind Energy Greener by Making the Turbines Themselves Recyclable
Although fields of spinning wind turbines are a renewable source of energy, a challenge to wind energy production is the energy used to create the turbine and make the 150-foot-wide fibreglass turbines strong and durable. Additionally, when the turbines wear out after 20 or 25 years, only part of the material can be recycled. Therefore, wind turbine production is an ideal project for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), a 160+ member, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and US Department of Energy driven consortium committed to increasing domestic production capacity and manufacturing jobs across the US composites industry. IACMI’s projects incorporate industry sectors including improving the composite materials used in the manufacturing of wind turbines, cars, compressed gas storage tanks and a number of other products such as airplanes and sporting goods.
By Liz Entman, Vanderbilt University and Emily King, Hannah Jay, and Robin Pate ,IACMI – The Composites Institute, USA
- Category: Articles
Materials and method to reduce the radar cross section of wind turbines
Reduction of the radar cross section is an important aspect when planning a modern wind power plant. In the European Union the building permits for more than 20GW of wind power plants are rejected till the end of 2011 because of interference with civil and military radars. This equates to an estimated value in 2011 of more than € 30 billion.
By Jari Jekkonen, Veijo Kangas, Pasi Moilanen and Marko Luukkainen, Morphona, Finland