This document summarizes a presentation on blade reliability from a wind turbine operator. It discusses the operator's fleet of over 3000 turbines across the US, and provides data on reported blade damage over 7 years. The top damage types - lightning, leading edge erosion, cracks and gel coat damage - account for 80% of reported issues. While 94% of damage is deemed repairable, damage to carbon spars and large structural cracks are less likely to be repaired. The presentation concludes with goals to improve data reporting, develop better lightning protection, and evaluate repair techniques for large cracks and carbon spars.
Wind turbines and their blades represent a substantial investment for any renewable energy project. In this webinar, learn how our experienced blade service technicians use field knowledge to combat issues such as blade erosion and lightning damage.
We will provide you with the knowledge of how a comprehensive blade inspection and repair plan can increase the lifespan of your project. By utilizing a multi-tiered blade inspection approach customers can select the service level that best suits their individual project’s needs, helping owners overcome common blade issues and increase project output.
Watch the webinar: http://www.windpowerengineering.com/webinars/blade-maintenance-observations-from-the-field/
Wind turbines and their blades represent a substantial investment for any renewable energy project. In this webinar, learn how our experienced blade service technicians use field knowledge to combat issues such as blade erosion and lightning damage.
We will provide you with the knowledge of how a comprehensive blade inspection and repair plan can increase the lifespan of your project. By utilizing a multi-tiered blade inspection approach customers can select the service level that best suits their individual project’s needs, helping owners overcome common blade issues and increase project output.
Watch the webinar: http://www.windpowerengineering.com/webinars/blade-maintenance-observations-from-the-field/
Fluid End Expendables—Solution to Your ChallengesBill French
If you’re in the industry, you probably know the oil and gas industry is thriving with over $129.8 billion in revenue in 2015. On average, 7.3 billion barrels of oil are “consumed” each year in the U.S. as well. While oil and gas has always been a part of the American economy, it’s especially lucrative right now. Learn how you can increase productivity and take advantage of this time in the industry with Utex’s custom solutions.
Solutions that Integrate - White Paper Series Part III: Oil and Gas Connectio...NorthwireCable
Continuing LEMO and Northwire’s collaborative white paper series is an in-depth analysis of the extreme environmental factors and electrical, mechanical, regulatory, and end-user demands of the oil and gas industry. These fuel sources continue to be dominant players in energy production around the world, and the extraction and refinement of oil and natural gas is constantly being examined and improved to increase efficiency and lower costs.
This webinar will provide information on important steps you can take to implement a proactive blade maintenance program. Preventative maintenance and operations programs not only protect wind assets, they improve energy production and boost profitability.
Semi-Technical to technical professionals or anyone evaluating wind turbine blade asset management should attend. .
Business titles can include:
Structural Engineer
Asset Manager
Operations Manager/Director
Operations & Maintenance Manager/ Director
Corporate Purchasing Managers/Directors
What You'll Learn:
Overview of fundamental steps you can take to dramatically increase the lifecycle of blades and reduce down-time
Best practices for maintaining and enhancing blade performance and longevity
Critical questions all asset managers should ask themselves when considering benefits of proactive maintenance and operations programs to reduce costs
With the need for PV disposal options growing, can the industry embrace solar panel recycling while learning how to profit from end-of-life decommissioning?
Building owners have more questions and requests on how to integrate renewable power into their buildings. And as the Smart Grid evolves, integration of renewable energy sources is increasing. Possible renewable power technologies include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. As the technologies that support increasing use of renewable energy mature, the codes and standards that define their use, interconnection, and interoperability with the grid must keep pace with them. Engineers involved with integrating renewable power into buildings must be aware of the applicable energy codes and standards and how to properly implement them into the building design. They must also evaluate the design objectives, materials, systems, and construction from all perspectives. It’s critical for designers to assess the design for cost, quality of life, expansion capabilities, efficiencies, impact on environment, creativity, and productivity.
09 Invited Lecture: Salt Creep at Low Deviatoric Stress
Coffey
1. Blade Reliability Case Study
Sandia Wind Turbine Blade Workshop
August 26, 2014
David Coffey
2. Overview
• Snapshot of Iberdrola Renewables
• Overview of blade failure data
• Failure modes & repair rates
• Examples of carbon spar damage
• Examples of large crack repair
• Conclusions
• Improvement Goals
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
2
3. 3
Iberdrola Renewables - North America
Iberdrola Renewables develops, owns and operates wind plants throughout the U.S.
• 3000+ turbines
• 56 wind farms
• 18 states
• 6+ GW capacity
• 6 different OEMs
• Rotor dia. 47-102 m
O & M Engineering:
• Performance & Reliability
• Continuous Improvement
• Root cause analysis
• Reliability centered maintenance
• Failure rate projections
• Repair specifications
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
4. 4
Snapshot of Iberdrola Renewables Fleet
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
5. Blade Reliability
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
5
“Repair required” blade
damages by year:
• 7+ years
• ~ 2600 reports
• includes end of
warranty inspections,
FM, operations etc.
Typical types of damage:
• Lightning
• Cracks
• Impact damage
• Surface/gel coat
• LE erosion
6. Blade Reliability
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
6
Top 5 damage types:
1. Lightning
2. LE Erosion
- Light/medium/heavy
3. Cracks
4. Gel coat damage
5. “Undetermined”
includes:
• Lightning
• Ice
• Moisture
intrusion
Damages can be broken
down further by location
on blade
Top 9
represent
80%
7. Blade Reliability
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
7
• 94% reported
damage is repairable
• Repair rates for
lightning have
improved
• Carbon spar damage
is still problematic
• Structural cracks are
less likely to be
repairable
8. Examples of carbon spar lightning damage
Repairable today Repairable tomorrow?
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
8
9. 9
Examples of large crack repair
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
Upper shell
Lower shell
• Testing feasibility of large crack repairs
• Will the repairs last?
• Is it economical?
10. Blade Reliability
Conclusions:
1. Overall blade damage rates are higher than expected
2. Lightning damage, LE erosion, Gel coat damage account for 80%
of damage reported
3. 94% total repair rate for all blade damages
– 6% replacement rate drives cost of ownership
4. Ongoing cost of ownership for carbon spar blades is higher than
other blade types
– Actively seeking improved protection and repair options.
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
10
11. Improvement Goals:
1. Blade damage
– Improved data reporting – standard method of damage categorization
– Continue to refine and improve damage reporting data base
• Clear and consistent criteria for run vs. stop decisions
• Clarify repair criteria
– Up tower repair – types and severity
– Ground repair – economic feasibility of repairs
2. Lightning protection:
– Design and test standards
• Improvements needed to IEC61400-24 lightning protection efficiency
calculations
– LPS system enhancements
3. Large crack repair
4. Carbon spar repair
Aug 26, 2014 David Coffey
11