Deutsche Windtechnik has secured TUV Nord verification of its drone-based solution for inspecting turbine rotor blades and lightning protection systems.
The drone is able to determine the technical condition of the rotor blades and the functionality of the lightning protection system, making it suitable for periodic inspections.
“The validation by TUV NORD confirms that the drone technology used by the Deutsche Windtechnik Inspection Body is suitable for carrying out a range of important inspections such as periodic and condition-oriented inspections,” said Deutsche Windtechnik director Matthias Brandt.
“In view of the current shortage of skilled workers and the rapidly growing turbine inventory, this is very good news for the entire industry because drones will significantly reduce the amount of work required as well as downtimes.
“In Germany this will close an important gap because legislators have not yet adopted any mandatory requirements for the use of drones in the wind energy industry.”
As part of an order-specific risk analysis that is carried out at an early stage, the inspection body evaluates and decides whether the drone system or rope access technology is better suited for the inspection objective.
If using drone technology is found to be more suitable, the now fully validated three-stage model, which is called CU-RE (Close-Up and Review), is then used in the next step.
This is based on the stringent, proven inspection requirements specified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
The first stage of the CU-RE system involves carrying out a general visual inspection using an automated drone flight. It scans 100% of the outer surface of a rotor blade to detect visible damage, faults or irregularities.
If necessary, the first stage can be supplemented in the second stage using selective, manually guided drone technology.
If more intensive inspection is required, additional specialised drone or rope access technology options can be deployed during the third stage.
Sales manager for inspection services at Deutsche Windtechnik Aeneas Noordanus said: “Increasing the level of detail of the inspection in each stage ensures that both the economic efficiency and the risks are taken into account.
“In the end, the now validated CU-RE drone system used by the Deutsche Windtechnik Inspection Body correctly identifies all damage to the rotor blade, allowing its influence on the stability to be assessed.”