Protecting the investment and optimising the energy yield are the top priorities when operating wind turbines. If the rotor blades suddenly come to a stop because of unexpected damage, this can mean longterm yield loss. Small anomalies, such as broken screws or defective blade bolts, can escalate undetected into massive damage, which is why it is important to constantly monitor the large components of the system.
The BLADEcontrol® rotor blade monitoring, TwinCap® bolt monitoring for blade bearings and BOLTcontrol bolt breakage detection systems from Weidmüller enable this. Reliable condition monitoring makes it possible to plan service tours before serious damage occurs. At the same time, maintenance schedules can be optimised, and system stops for maintenance work can be planned for low wind phases. The three systems can be installed in onshore and offshore turbines around the globe.
The typical fault pattern depends on the turbine type. We will be glad to advise you on the right condition monitoring solution for your systems.
The planning and execution of maintenance and repair work is particularly time-consuming and costly for offshore installations. With BLADEcontrol® you can anticipate impending damage and react before it occurs. In this way, you achieve higher system availability and minimise the need for repairs.
We will gladly support you with our monitoring know-how. Get to know the potential of our condition monitoring systems and make your wind turbine more intelligent.
With BLADEcontrol® you can detect even the smallest damage to rotor blades, e.g. blade tip damage caused by lightning strikes, trailing edge cracks, web separation, bonding defects or blade bearing damage. This is achieved by measuring inside the blade, at the point where the damage occurs. Your advantages with BLADEcontrol® at a glance
Take advantage of our new WebVis. The dashboard provides a quick overview of the entire turbine portfolio. A variety of filter functions, direct switching from one turbine to the next and a time range selection ensure an effective workflow.
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The patented BOLTcontrol monitoring system recognises broken bolts and prevents consequential damage to wind turbines. Blade bolts act as a bolted connection between the hub and rotor blade and are therefore permanently exposed to dynamic loads. BOLTcontrol not only recognises a broken bolt, but also offers protection against the consequential damage caused by broken bolts.
Our BOLTcontrol system consists of detection plates and an evaluation unit. The detection plates and their holding magnets can be adapted to different wind turbines for specific applications. The evaluation unit is available as a control cabinet and DIN rail version.
Your advantages with BOLTcontrol at a glance
During the lifetime of a wind turbine, it is not only the rotor blades that are exposed to risks. Bolted joints are among the most stressed parts of a wind turbine and can crack, become damaged and break over time. The condition monitoring system for blade bearings is designed to detect bolt nuts that are about to break. A broken nut is an indicator of a crack in the outer ring of the blade bearing.
Without condition monitoring, the progression of the blade bearing crack and resulting fastener failure can be severely debilitating and eventually lead to the loss of the blade. Our TwinCap® system monitors the condition of your blade bearings and reliably detects cracks. Thus, expensive consequential damage is avoided.
A cracked nut is an indicator of a crack in the blade bearing. The TwinCap® sensors detect cracks in bolt nuts and disconnect the circuit as soon as a nut bursts open. An evaluation unit signals the damage to the control unit in order to switch it off.
Your advantages with TwinCap® at a glance
There is no registration required.
Condition monitoring systems for rotor blades make a major contribution to trouble-free operation, particularly in the offshore sector. With the BLADEcontrol® Condition Monitoring Service one of our offshore customers has significantly reduced downtimes and saved costs in the six-figure range.
Our customer SAITEC is taking a look at the future of offshore wind power beyond the shallow coasts: Floating wind turbines can generate electricity at almost any depth in the sea and therefore offer excellent potential for reducing CO2 emissions. We have equipped the DemoSATH prototype with two newly developed customer solutions: The integrated LED system and the TwinCap® remote maintenance system, which detects damage to the nuts in the blade bearing at an early stage.
Choosing the right monitoring system for your wind turbine depends on the turbine type. Whether BLADEcontrol®, BOLTcontrol or TwinCap® - we will be glad to advise you on your individual requirements.
Hans Schlingmann
Vice President Wind Solutions
