Onyx Insight has launched a wind turbine blade root connection monitoring system following extensive field testing.
The system is scalable across entire fleets.
Combining sensors, sensor placement and data analytics, the technology reduces manual visual inspection requirements within the turbine hub and blades.
This in turn reduces the need for turbine climbing and improves safety, Onyx said.
During two years of field testing, the technology has been proven on over 3000 blades across a thousand turbines, demonstrating “highly effective and accurate” fault detection.
Blade root connection failures are a growing issue across the wind industry and are not limited to any one turbine type or blade manufacturer.
Some design concepts and blade models have experienced particularly high failure rates in the field and are a natural target for continuous online monitoring.
If not addressed early, blade root connection failure can lead to blade loss or, in extreme cases, full turbine collapse.
This can seriously impact asset profitability, with a single blade replacement costing approximately $300,000 to $500,000.
Onyx’s ecoPITCH blade root connection monitoring system can be deployed in two ways, dependent on site requirements and potential restraints around maintenance campaigns.
Using ecoPITCH, a permanent monitoring system, continuous data and insights are delivered, reducing site visits and providing long-term visibility.
Alternatively, ecoPITCH Portable, a temporary solution, can be deployed rapidly, enabling a snapshot of asset status at any given time.