Comprehensive Health Monitoring System for Wind Turbines

Equipment reliability is of critical concern to wind power project operators and owners. Numerous examples demonstrate that the achieved operating life of some major components, most notably those in the drive train, often falls short of the design life. These failures incur very high costs, not only for the component itself, but for the equipment required for removal and replacement. Early detection of imminent failures is important, but equally critical is insight into the cause of these failures. This project will develop a comprehensive wind turbine health monitoring system that detects operating conditions that are potentially damaging to major components. Phase I will focus on developing measurement and analysis techniques for characterizing turbine behavior and predicting the influence of abnormal conditions on component life. Phase II will integrate these techniques into an adaptive model that will be demonstrated at an operating wind power project. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The health monitoring system would serve as a tool for the wind farm operator or asset manager who needs to maximize turbine availability while extending the operational life for as long as possible. The system will generate an on-going measure of the effect of specific operating conditions, allowing the operator to perform required remedial maintenance or to adjust operating strategies to minimize damage to the equipment.