Accurate, high-quality data gives wind turbine owners and operators powerful insights into the health of their turbines and provide them with crucial information that is used to effectively plan and protect their assets from severe weather conditions.
Uniquely positioned high-performance technology
ONYX Insight, the leading-edge predictive maintenance solutions provider, was able to monitor the recent Texas de-icing incident, where the data from the advanced MEMS sensors on its ecoCMS system indicated signs of rotor imbalance because of ice on the turbines.
ONYX’s ecoCMS system is more than a typical CMS – delivering high-quality data analytics that feed into its fleetMONITOR, a wind turbine condition monitoring software, to bring multiple data streams together for better visibility. ecoCMS utilises high performance Mico Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors. MEMS accelerometers are widely used today in many applications, ranging from the smartphone in your pocket up NASA’s perseverance rover, currently driving around on the surface of Mars.
Typical ‘legacy’ CMS systems use piezoelectric sensors that, while adequate data for gearbox monitoring, do not measure at low frequency, which means they cannot monitor factors such as rotor imbalance monitoring. In comparison, MEMS sensors measure right down to 0 Hz (also known as DC offset), which means the main bearing ecoCMS sensor can be used to see the input shaft frequency (’1P’) and blade passing frequency (’3P’) – both of which are typically below 1 Hz. These cannot be detected using a conventional CMS.
ONYX uses its high-performance technology to monitor any vibration trends, for example, ecoCMS can detect the vibrational imbalance caused by ice on the turbine’s blades. If the rotor is imbalanced, ecoCMS will detect an increase in the 1P rotor frequency. There are many possible causes of mass imbalance such as non-uniform accumulation of dirt, moisture or damage or ice build up. Furthermore, aerodynamic imbalance can be caused by errors in the individual blade profile, damage or pitch calibration error.
Critically, any imbalance can damage the turbine through increased blade stress, additional vibration of the nacelle and tower, and torsional oscillations that can damage the gearbox, blades, bearings, generator and other turbine components, all of which can lead to costly repairs.
Use your past data to inform your future
ONYX combines practical engineering knowledge with the latest technology and a wealth of data, monitoring over 7,000 turbines globally, on and offshore. We compare and contrast examples throughout the world where we have seen severe weather conditions. We know the value of data, and support our customers not simply in understanding it, but using their data to give them real long term value, with tangible results enabling them to streamline their business operations, their O&M and critically, use it to make more informed, better and future-proofed O&M decisions.
ecoCMS provides information on which turbines are underperforming, which components are failing, which turbines are showing more wear and tear with key trend information.
Leverage your investment to ensure the continued health of your turbine in all weathers
An investment into ecoCMS has dual purpose, owners and operators can use their data, including weather data, to measure and monitor turbine imbalance, and mitigate the risk of an asset in extreme conditions. It also allows owners and operators to detect and withstand the damaging effects of severe weather on their fleets.
The data from ecoCMS can save millions of pounds in early detection of faults, enable planning O&M around weather windows and implement robust H&S practices. Not only does the ice in this particular case cause the turbine to stop but it also brings significant safety risks – for example, an ‘ice throw’ can damage the turbine or could even cause personal injury. The ability to detect and react to these issues enables owners and operators to make the most of their assets and their investments.
Stop and start
Once ice has formed on a turbine, there is then the challenge of getting them up and running again. Gearbox oil is pre-heated before a cold start to minimise the risk of consequential damage, and ecoCMS continues to monitor the drivetrain and rotor imbalance to confirm that the ice has melted and vibration levels are back to normal.
ecoCMS gives valuable information in enabling decisions about the fleet and maintaining reliability, for example, it holds the potential for wind turbine operators to highlight the worst turbines impacted and to put in place plans to react next time this problem arises.
Our advice is simple, ecoCMS can give you a powerful insight into how to avoid your turbines coming to a stop. That way you can make better-informed decisions to future-proof your assets. After all, the future of the climate is unknown, let’s be prepared together.