Page 96 - ENGINEERING REVIEW APRIL 2022 DIGITAL MAGAZINE

TECH INNOVATION
# SENSOR SOLUTIONS

Sensor solutions for the reliable

inspection of wind turbines

Due to safety and cost reasons, wind turbines require 24/7 monitoring. Lightning, defective rotor blades or
tower movements due to localized storms can have serious consequences until the wind turbine finally collapses.
Precision sensor technology from Micro-Epsilon is already used during production as well as in the real-time
monitoring of active plants. The sensors enable the plant operator to intervene early during production or to
switch off the running wind turbine early enough to avoid danger or damage. Targeted monitoring using modern
sensor technology reduces the costs of maintenance and servicing.

Due to safety and cost reasons, wind turbines require 24/7 monitoring. Precision sensor technology from Micro-Epsilon is
already used during production as well as in the real-time monitoring of active plants.

arnessing the power of wind has offshore farms are not easily accessible begun to be used in the production
been used over many years, for at any time of day or night. Due to wear process and continues in test benches
Hexample, to power windmills and and the complexity of plants, in addition and real-time monitoring during turbine
sailing ships. Today, generating power is to environmental influences, there are operation. Wear of parts or deviations in
the most important use of wind energy. also a number of possible problems production should be recognized before
Wind turbines are used onshore and such as shaft issues, gear faults, gear catastrophic damage occurs. Therefore,
offshore for power generation. The rotor wheel wear, material fatigue, imbalance, it is possible to intervene long before the
towers of these major plants weigh temperature differences, lubrication parts fail or tools begin to wear out. Not
dozens of tons and reach up into the faults and bearing clearances, which do only can current states be documented,
sky. Their average rotor diameter is not only impede smooth operation but but trends and changes in measurement
approx. 110m, the average hub height might also involve other subsequent data can be analyzed and evaluated.
is approx. 130m. If such equipment or secondary damage. Predictive Maintenance becomes predictable and
fails, a high financial cost is incurred. Maintenance plays an essential role sudden failure or downtime of these
Cranes and other machines are normally here. Proactive monitoring based on large plants is reduced to a minimum.
unavailable at short notice. Particularly precision sensor technology has already This is how productivity can be increased

94 | APRIL 2022