| Power plant products Condition monitoring system with fail-safe


Yaw drive manufacturer Nabtesco, based in Japan, has developed a condition monitoring system with a fail-safe function (CMFS) that protects the yaw slewing unit against failure in order to extend the service life of wind turbines and reduce costs. Nabtesco regards this as a game changer for the industry.


The nacelles of modern wind turbines are equipped with yaw slewing units for alignment to the wind direction. High winds and turbulence can cause problems with these units owing to excessive force or uneven strain. The result is premature wear, sudden failure and high repair costs.


Such problems can be prevented by a condition monitoring system with fail safe. The system monitors the slewing unit, detects


abnormal conditions and automatically provides for an even load distribution.


The CMFS system consists of four components – a bolt strain sensor, a signal transducer, a controller and a power supply unit. Installation is said to be fast and easy. It can be installed on all models, brands and types of wind turbine, and retrofitting is said to be straightforward. A high-precision strain sensor measures the external forces, which are processed and analysed by the controller. If the values exceed critical parameters, the controller automatically triggers the electromagnetic brake on the respective yaw drive unit to reduce the load. The system automatically saves all data to the cloud, so that the user can access real-time information on the load conditions via a PC,


smart phone or tablet. The control dashboard lists the operator’s wind turbines, and each single yaw drive unit displays overloads, so allowing continuous monitoring.


Rotor blade damage progression module


Sulzer Schmid, a Swiss company that is pioneering unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology for wind rotor blade inspection, has launched its latest 3DX Damage Progression module, which is designed to track damage sites and monitor how they develop over time. By comparing the evolution of blade damage from one inspection campaign to another, the new module enables blade experts to make informed decisions for maintenance and repairs. The progression of a damage site is displayed in a time series of recorded inspections, so that it can be easily evaluated. In this way, leading-edge erosion for example, can be closely monitored and its evolution tracked in a so-called ‘damage chain’.


The inspection data is used to accurately identify, localise, measure, and classify damage sites. This means that for each subsequent inspection it is always possible to find the exact location and history of any damage, then review and evaluate its evolution. This makes the planning of repair campaigns significantly more efficient, saving downtime and optimising blade repair budgets. The module is available on the


Left: 3DX damage progression, showing change from ‘severity 3’ to ‘severity 5’ in 9 months


proprietary browser-based 3DX Blade Platform, which integrates all the inspection information in one place, providing an overview of the blade health of the entire fleet of wind turbines. Tom Sulzer, Sulzer Schmid co-founder and CEO, stated. “When inspections are carried out in a routine and automated fashion the data generated becomes a veritable treasure [trove]. With advanced analytics and machine learning the data can generate important insights and


trend analysis, which can be used to optimise repair campaigns and maintenance strategy. As more and more data are collected, we learn how problems develop over time and lay the foundation for predictive maintenance”.


HVO fuel now suitable for all Kohler generators


Kohler Power Systems, which supplies mission- critical diesel generators, has announced that its entire offering is now compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The company considers this a significant breakthrough in the usage of alternative fuels in backup power. No adaptations to installed generators are required, allowing for the immediate delivery of renewable fuel to customers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.


This next-generation renewable fuel, says Kohler, has all the advantages of a sustainable fuel source, with none of the disadvantages of first-generation biodiesels.


First-generation solutions had a limited storage life of just six months, while HVO is very stable, with no sensitivity to oxidation, so it can be stored long-term. It is also 90% carbon neutral and sourced entirely from waste products – making it


part of a circular economy.


The similarity in HVO and fossil diesel characteristics also helps smooth the shift to biofuel because the two fuels can be mixed directly in the tank.


It can therefore be used immediately as the fuel supply for all Kohler diesel generators, whether they are brand new or previously installed and in operation.


www.modernpowersystems.com | September 2022 | 39


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