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Sensoria™ - Early Detection Service of Wind Blade Damages
As large, rotational assets exposed to the environment, wind turbines are vulnerable to a multitude of damage mechanisms. Due to the high location of rotor blades, they are difficult to repair and maintain which leads to high cost. Catastrophic failure of wind turbine blades, due to excessive loading or fatigue damage, can result in impaired production when the asset is out of service. In severe cases, it can lead to the destruction of the entire machine.
Cracking
Cracking can occur on many different parts of an asset, and rotor blades are especially susceptible. Much of the cracking that occurs on rotor blades is not visible by the human eye and thus often goes undetected. Cracks can occur over long periods of time or in extreme conditions. If left undetected, they may lead to catastrophic blade failure.
Delaminations
Delaminations are a common form of damage that wind turbine rotor blades are subjected to. Wind turbine blades can experience delamination due to numerous causes. Delaminations can be identified early and before any visual indication through acoustic monitoring. If identified early, delaminations can be quickly and efficiently repaired or monitored for growth.
High-energy impacts & lighting strikes
When natural elements or foreign objects collide with rotor blades, Sensoria can detect these occurrences. The location and severity of damage can be determined and help lead to appropriate decision-making. Impacts and lighting strikes will provide a cascade of high energy hits that occur in a short period of time. Any damage on the blade will provide a mixture of signals associated to cracking and rubbing.
Blade skin ruptures & perforations
Lightning strikes, fatigue defects, and severe leading-edge erosion are the primary causes of ruptures or perforations. Acoustic monitoring can identify these issues, allowing them to be addressed before they increase in size and adversely affect performance.
Bond line Failure
Deterioration of the bond lines may occur overtime between the blade’s structural elements. Sensoria can identify active disbanding allowing for targeted inspection before defect growth.
Other serial manufacturing defects
A leading cause of blade damage is undetected manufacturing defects. If left unattended, this damage worsens during the stresses of turbine operation. Sensoria is able to flag these defects early so that they can be addressed during the manufacturer’s warranty period.