Title:
Using Wireless Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring of Wind Turbines
Abstract:
Structural health monitoring and damage detection of civil structures are of increasing
importance in applications, in which reliability, security and optimisation play an important role. In the wind energy sector, they help to reduce operating downtimes, minimize security risks and thereby contribute to increased competitiveness of renewable energies.
In most monitoring approaches, sensors are placed on the inside of rotor blades, however, retro-fitting of monitoring systems is desirable. Therefore, sensor placement on the outside of rotor blades is a promising solution.
Main challenges of mounting sensors on the outside of wind turbine blades include positioning, energy harvesting and wireless transmission and will be addressed in this talk.
First promising results have been achieved by placing a light-weight low-profile MEMS accelerometer at the tip of a blade. Vibration frequencies, circular loading and turbine settings have been analysed for a two-month test period and indicate potential for detecting increased loads and vibrations due to damage or nonideal turbine settings. Additionally, suitable data analysis methods have been developed to detect alternating loads subject to wind effects such as wind shear, yaw, and tower shadow.
The overall aim of this approach is to draw conclusions regarding the condition of the blade and to determine influences such as aging and deformation.