A partnership between turbine maintenance company Rope Partner and Denmark based company, Bladena, a blade expert and structural and aeroelastic researchers, will let the two specialize in providing blade enhancements to counteract cracking and other operational failures. Preventative measures include a patented technology known as the D-String.
The blade cross section shows about where on the trailing edge blade repair techs would place the d-strings.
Research shows a significant number of turbine blade failures are bond line related. Trailing edge failures are the most common. The problems are caused by “breathing,” which refers to blade panel deformities induced by heavy loads exerted during turbine operation. The load changes direction relative to the blade rotation and causes the blade shell panels to bow outward, which is known as “breathing.” The effect has been identified in the more mature European market where industrial-scale turbines have experienced longer fatigue life.
As a result, Rope Partner has teamed with Bladena to provide cost-effective solutions to this widely experienced problem. D-string will help wind farm owners mitigate the effects of blade breathing such as structural cracks, de-bonding, and splitting along the trailing edge. Bladena’s solution to this problem will reduce maintenance or repair costs and keep turbines online for longer periods of time.
The close-up on one end of a D-string shows some anchoring detail.
“We believe that the simplest solutions are often the best and this proves true with the Bladena D-String Solution,” says Eric Stanfield, President of Rope Partner. “We are increasingly seeing the results of this type of fatigue damage in the field and strongly believe in the value of this solution for our industry. The Asset Managers with a longer-term vision, who invest in solutions like this, will reduce liability and maximize ROI over the life of their investment.”
“We announced our partnership at Wind Power 2013 and are already scheduling our first project with one of our clients. Rope Partner is honored to be selected as a partner by Bladena,” says Stanfield.
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