RENEWABLE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP
TURBINES RUNNING T
Ultrasonic tools help keep wind turbines fully operational and reduce the risk of fi res
he energy matrix is changing, and the industry is continuously driving initiatives towards generating greener, cleaner and more sustainable energy.
Public support for renewable energy in the UK is consistently high (around 85%), and the nation is proudly leading the way in reducing carbon emissions to fulfi l the Climate Change Act of 2008. Our dependence on renewables is
growing, and as a result, the wind turbines being built are taller and more powerful. Yet with this growth, comes the challenge of keeping assets operational. T e second leading cause of accidents in wind turbines after blade failure, is fi re. It is hence even more vital that we keep them fully operational and reduce the risks of
lives lost and assets damaged, to lead in this global movement for greener change. T ere are over 340,000 wind turbines
around the world, yet the vast majority have no fi re suppression system installed. 10-30% of all loss-of-power-generation incidents in wind power plants are due to fi re. T e nacelle operates at a great heat and comprises highly fl ammable resin fi breglass, with internal insulation. Combined with the possibility of lightning strikes, these very tall turbines (now surpassing 450ft) in exposed locations pose a uniquely high risk and are vulnerable to fi res.
FIRE LENDS GREAT DANGER When turbines are under construction, or engineers are undergoing maintenance and repairs, the escape routes are often long and vertical, which in the case of a fi re lends severe danger. Examples of the other eff ects of such an event include the following:
· In 2005, a wind turbine powering the Nissan car factory in the UK caught fi re,
· In 2011 a wind turbine fi re in Ardrossan, UK caught fi re and burning
leading to the total loss and disruption of the nearby highway
debris were scattered across a long distance due to the strong winds
The Portalevel Max is an ideal tool for wind turbine systems
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