Recent advances in wind-energy lubrication are aimed at supporting increased turbine efficiency. Synthetic lubricants have received considerable attention mostly due to their reputation for improved performance over conventional mineral-based oils. A few specialized lubricants with characteristics intended for particular tasks include low-temperature fluidity and long oil life. Such lubricants provide benefits for difficult to maintain…
What methods of condition monitoring are available for wind turbines?
Condition monitoring, as the name implies, monitors the condition of a component or project. The purpose of monitoring machinery health is to predict maintenance rather than reactively maintain the project. Essentially, there are three ways to operate a wind turbine: Wait until something fails, then repair it Replace components regardless of their condition at a…
How have hydraulic filters changed in the last few years?
Filter elements are rated on their ability to remove contaminants of specific targeted sizes from a fluid under specific operating conditions. Filtration ratings can be measured by analyzing three areas of performance: 1. Dirt holding capacity 2. Absolute rating (micron) and percent efficiency (beta ratio) 3. Pressure drop across the element at a specific absolute…
How are manufacturers working to reduce cost of electrical components on wind farms?
Wind energy plant developers, owners and operators all face uncertainty about how undefined tax laws and structures—the U.S. wind production tax credits in particular—may impact a plant’s financial picture. There is increased focus on finding ways to make projects financially viable without tax incentives like the PTCs, particularly from a cost standpoint. This focus has…
Why should owners replace conventional obstruction lights with LED versions?
If your company was a pioneer in the wind industry, your portfolio includes wind farms from the 80’s, 90’s, or early 2000s. More than likely, you still have older strobe or incandescent lighting products installed on those turbines and have been debating whether to replace them. As with any technology, there have been continual improvements…
What new construction challenges come from the changing wind industry?
Construction projects that run smoothly and on schedule are certainly not free of obstacles. Working in the wind industry for nearly 20 years, we’ve come to expect challenges associated with unpredictable weather and wind conditions, uncertainty around equipment deliveries and difficult permitting processes–among other issues. Project planning and execution strategies have been affected by the…
How can you prevent encoder failure in wind turbines?
Encoders are a forgotten component in wind turbines—at least until they fail. Wind turbines are a challenging application for encoders, something many OEMs and end-users discover just after installation. The constant vibration and thrust is tough on tiny encoder bearings (and for absolute encoders it’s tough on internal gearboxes). Another problem is temperature cycling combined…
How can the industry prepare for the logistics of offshore wind?
In the next few years, at least five offshore wind projects will hit U.S. waters. As developers prepare for construction, port facilities must also make preparations to support these projects. So what might an ideal port look like? According to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, one developer suggests a port would need a 1,000-ton crane…
AWEA WINDPOWER 2015 Day 3 in review
Floor traffic still seemed modest in the middle day (Wednesday) of the show but exhibitors seemed content that the right people were walking the aisles. The day started with a keynote presentation by college professor at the Wharton School of Business and author of the book Contagious: How things catch on, Jonah Berger. His message…
Photoblog: AWEA WINDPOWER 2015, Day Three
Energy Dept: New wind energy technology unlocks wind development opportunity in all 50 states
New wind resource maps are showing the ability for advanced wind turbines to reach stronger winds higher above the ground, unlocking a previously untapped wind resource area that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says could eventually bring wind energy development to every state in America. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz discussed the new report…
A highlight of WINDPOWER 2015
U.S. energy secretary, Dr Ernest Moniz, spoke at the Opening General Session at AWEA’s WINDPOWER 2015 event today in Orlando, Florida. Moniz stressed that wind power is an important and necessary part of the solution to climate change. Wind could provide five times what it provides today, he said, with a goal of one trillion…
AWEA’s WINDPOWER 2015 Tuesday review
If WINDPOWER 2015 is smaller than last year it’s difficult to tell. Traffic seemed good and the quality of booths attest to the vitality in the wind industry. Here’s what we saw today: Upwind Solution’s Peter Wells presided over a panel session that dealt with the future of operations. Panelists included Microsoft’s Vijay Narayanan who…
Keystone Tower Systems installs world’s first tapered spiral welded tower
Keystone Tower Systems has completed the manufacture and installation of the industry’s first tapered spiral welded wind turbine tower in Middleton, MA. The tower was made using Keystone’s novel manufacturing process which produces tapered, tubular steel towers with variable wall thickness – the standard design for the wind industry. This fully-automated rolling and welding system…
Could drones be a wind techs new best friend?
More than one drone company will be showing its wares at AWEA’s Windpower 2015. Drones, for our purposes, are really unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying a high resolution video cameras and soon several sensors that might spot a range of problems in wind turbine blades. Until recently, a reliable blade inspection had to be…
Wind turbine overhaul: Converting the old into new
Wind turbine attrition is OK. That is one of the messages Gamesa, with guest DNV GL, discussed at a presentation during the opening day of AWEA’s WINDPOWER 2015 Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. The key is preparing for wind turbine wear in the early stages of a turbine’s life through proper O&M assessments and…
AWEA’s Windpower 2015 begins even before the show floor opens
Windpower Engineering & Development editors Michelle Froese and Paul Dvorak are in Orlando Florida covering what is possibly the U.S. wind industry’s most important annual event. Here’s their perspective on the first day’s events. Windpower 2015 began today with presentations by several ABB personnel with the goal of providing ideas for optimizing wind farm operations.…
New ideas in blade repairs with Abaris Training
Repair instructor, Lou Dorworth, of Abaris Training recently wrote an article on new techniques for repairing wind turbine blades (which will be featured in our June issue). In this Wind Talk podcast, he explains the types of blade damage commonly found, conventional methods for repairs, and new ideas for returning damaged blades into like-new.
What types of software are available for wind resource data and assessment?
Wind development and consulting firms depend on engineering and support software. The general categories of software that companies might use include: wind data validation and analysis, wind farm design and optimization, and online wind data resources that leverage geographic information system (GIS) technology to support preliminary site screening and evaluation of wind resources. Online Wind…
How can wind farm owners reduce the risk of falls?
As the world increasingly relies on wind power, more workers are required to help build and maintain turbines. Wind power companies can protect these workers and reduce fall risks by keeping in mind the following safety tips: Develop, implement and communicate your work site’s fall protection plan. All work at height should be planned in…