The document discusses the efficiency and challenges of wind turbine gearbox inspections, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections to prolong turbine lifespan. It outlines the benefits of Remote Visual Inspection (RVI), such as ease of understanding and on-site capabilities, and addresses the challenges faced during inspections, including maneuverability and light conditions. The document introduces the Iplex G Lite videoscope, highlighting its advanced features that enhance inspection efficiency, including improved image clarity, ergonomic design, and live image streaming.

1. RVI | Liam Giles Hanna
Gothenburg, 15 June 2018
Improving the
Efficiency of Wind
Turbine Inspections

2. Agenda
1 Introduction
2 Improving Turbine Lifetime with Gearbox Inspections
3 Challenges of Gearbox Inspections
4 Addressing these Challenges
5
Saving Time and Becoming More Efficient when Inspecting Wind Turbine
Gearboxes
6 Close

3. § By visually inspecting an item, it is easy to understand the whole situation, and a
complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image
§ RVI makes it possible to absorb large amounts of data quickly
Remote Visual Inspection (RVI)

4. RVI is a visual inspection, and visual defects can be measured
For sub-surface/internal defects, other Olympus products may be used, including NDT and ANI
Benefits of RVI
1. Easy to understand what is happening inside a component
2. On-site inspection is possible
3. No need to use a special wave
4. No need for a special license

5. 50% of us can identify
this
50% of us can identify
this
Probably only 10% can
gain anything from this
RVI Compared to Other Techniques

6. RVI Compared to Other Techniques
We can all draw a
conclusion from this

7. Agenda
1 Introduction
2 Improving Turbine Lifetime with Gearbox Inspections
3 Challenges of Gearbox Inspections
4 Addressing these Challenges
5
Saving Time and Becoming More Efficient when Inspecting Wind Turbine
Gearboxes
6 Close

8. Commercial wind
turbines can be
operational for over
20 years
Frequent reasons
for wind turbine
damage include:
• Corrosion
• Moisture
• Lightning strike
• Material loss in the
machinery
Continuous
monitoring systems
are installed to
detect early
warning signs of
damage
Improving Turbine Lifetime with Gearbox Inspections

9. Common Inspection Points
Inside a wind turbine nacelle
High/mid/low and planetary stage
gears and bearings
High/Mid/Low speed gear
Planetary gear
§ To address these early warning signs and as a routine precaution, wind turbine gearboxes are regularly
inspected to avoid repairs and downtime and to ensure a long lifespan

10. Agenda
1 Introduction
2 Improving Turbine Lifetime with Gearbox Inspections
3 Challenges of Gearbox Inspections
4 Addressing these Challenges
5
Saving Time and Becoming More Efficient when Inspecting Wind Turbine
Gearboxes
6 Close

11. Challenges of Gearbox Inspections
Maneuverability
Low Light
Conditions
Glare
Oil
Contamination
Depth of Field
Portability/
Working
Environment

12. Agenda
1 Introduction
2 Improving Turbine Lifetime with Gearbox Inspections
3 Challenges of Gearbox Inspections
4 Addressing these Challenges
5
Saving Time and Becoming More Efficient when Inspecting Wind Turbine
Gearboxes
6 Close

13. Lightweight and ergonomic design
Addressing the Challenges: IPLEX® G Lite
Videoscope
§ 1.15 kg (2.5 lb)
§ Compact body fits in your palm with a hand strap
§ Carrying case easily fits in most airplane overhead bins
Case size: W 455 H 330 D 175 mm
W 18 H 13 D 7 inches

14. Rugged
Addressing the Challenges
§ IP65 rain and dust resistant
§ Tested to U.S Department of Defense
standards (MIL-STD-810G and 461G)
MIL STD Type
MIL 810G 1.2 m (4 ft) drop test
Vibration
Blowing rain
Humidity
Salt fog
Sand and dust
Icing/freezing rain
Explosive atmosphere
MIL 461G Electromagnetic interference (EMI)

15. Improved brightness
Addressing the Challenges
§ A powerful LED in the main body provides 2x the
brightness of its predecessor (IPLEX UltraLite)
§ The PulsarPic™ processor and WiDER® technology
continuously optimizes image brightness
0 100 200 300
φ 6mm
φ 4mm
UltraLite
G Lite
(mm)
Brightness Distance Comparison
All scopes tested are 3.5 m length models.

16. Image comparison—wind turbine gearbox bearing
Addressing the Challenges
IPLEX® G Lite IPLEX UltraLite

17. Agenda
1 Introduction
2 Improving Turbine Lifetime with Gearbox Inspections
3 Challenges of Gearbox Inspections
4 Addressing these Challenges
5
Saving Time and Becoming More Efficient when Inspecting Wind Turbine
Gearboxes
6 Close

18. Clearer images during oily inspections
Inspection Efficiency
Conventional model
Oil clearing design
Oil remains on the lens
New design remove oil
using grooves
§ New design remove oil from the surface of
the distal end
§ Spend less time cleaning, more time
inspecting

19. Inspection Efficiency
TrueFeel® electric articulation
§ The IPLEX G Lite videoscope’s ergonomic design is complemented by TrueFeel articulation,
making the joystick incredibly responsible
§ A light touch produces an immediate response and precise movement from the insertion tube
so that it is easier to maneuver the scope

20. Inspection Efficiency
Live image streaming
§ Wirelessly send live inspection images to smartphones and tablets.
§ Secure streaming with the connection channel and password
Wireless USB adaptor Dedicated iOS app:
RVI Image Share

21. Inspection Efficiency
Constant video recording
§ The IPLEX G Lite videoscope automatically records the last 30 minutes of your inspection, even
between startups and battery changes
§ This function repeats “capture new” and “delete old,” so the recording media does not become empty.

22. Inspection Efficiency
Video recording index function
§ During movie recording, it’s simple to add an index so that an inspector can find the
bookmarked location quickly
Still image capture function
§ With the push of a button, take a still image while
recording a video
§ By adding index marks, you can skip backward
and forward to the marked positions when
playing back or pausing the movie

23. Inspection Efficiency
InHelp™ inspection assist software helps you:
1. Streamline your inspection with a customizable workflow
2. Manage all the inspection media in one location
3. Quickly generate inspection reports with customizable templates

24. Thank You
Olympus, IPLEX, WiDER, and TrueFeel are registered trademarks, and PulsarPic and InHelp are trademarks of Olympus Corporation.
microSD and SDHC are trademarks of SD-3C, LLC.