WindForce GmbH i'G'

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Advanced Wind Turbine Controls Input Based on
RealTime Loads Measured with Fiber Optical
Sensors Embedded in Rotor Blades ewec 2006,
Athens 28 February S. Kuhnt, J. Wernicke, R.
Byars, J. Shadden (WindForce GmbH)
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Main Issues on Wind Power Plants

• High Operational and Maintenance Costs
• Reliability below Customer Expectation
• MTBF, MTTR
• Competitiveness of COE
• Low Insurability
• Rapid Market Development

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FIBRADAPTAdvanced Wind Turbine Control System
Operational Conditions of a wind turbine

• Goal
• Reduction of Structural and Dynamic Loads
  (extreme and fatigue)
• Increasing the Lifetime of Wind Turbine
  Components
• Component Reliability Improvements (MTBF, MTTR)
• Project Controlling and Management Parameter
• Fast Return on Investment (ROI)

Investments in Innovation ensure Future Business
Opportunities
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Targets

• Measuring of Rotor flapwise and edgewise Loads
  and Frequencies during Operation
• Traceability of single Events (extreme Loads,
  emergency Stop etc.)
• Traceability of fatigue Loads for residual
  Lifetime Estimation
• Monitoring of Design Parameter
• Monitoring of the Component Structure for early
  Detection of Damages and for determining
  predictive Maintenance

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Installed Measurement System
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Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) -Benefits

• Multiple sensors in a single Fibre
• Simple Connectivity, low Sensor Mass
• No EMI with other operational Systems
• Higher Measurement Quality and Stability
• Solid state Electronics
• Lifetime Operation
• High Reliability of Sensors

No EMI, no Corrosion, high Reliability
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Control Interface Electronics
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FIBRADAPT Advanced wind turbine controls
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Residual Lifetime Estimation

• Residual Lifetime Estimation is based on Load
  Cycle Counting during the Operation of the Wind
  Turbine used for predictive Maintenance.

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Structural Monitoring

• The Occurrence of Cracks and Defects can be
  detected at an early Stage to prevent
  catastrophic Failures and lengthy Downtimes. Data
  can be also used for Ice Load Monitoring.

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Active Control

• Real time Loads act as in Input for Individual
  Blade Pitch Control especially for large Wind
  Turbines where the Wind is very turbulent over
  the Rotor spam.

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Integration of FIBRADAPT
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FIBRADAPT System Additional Applications

• Integration into the SCADA System
• Standard Application for Design Verifications
• Development of a Wind Park Management System
  based on Load Data
• Black Box Functionality

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Test Installation Application of FIBRADAPT
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Sensor Layout in Test
Blade 1
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Installation of FIBRADAPT during the Production
of the Blade
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Bending Moment flapwise
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Flap- and edgewise Loads during Operation
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Frequency Analysis (Turbine Operation)
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Project planning - Outlook

• Integration of FIBRADAPT into a Serie
• Development and testing of active Control
  Algorithms for FIBRADAPT
• Development of Methods for controlling and
  operating, based on Variables
• Development of Methods for assuring the
  Application Process in Serial Production in
  Offshore Installations
• Development of Software for Load Monitoring and
  Residual Lifetime Estimation

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Thank you for your attention!
Die Entwicklung wird teilweise finanziert durch
Mittel aus dem PFAU Programm der BIS
Bremerhaven WindForce GmbH wird unterstützt durch
Mittel des GRW Programms des Landes Bremen
www.wind-force.com sabrina.kuhnt_at_wind-force.com