Maintenance crews acknowledge that frequent lubrications with small amounts of grease extend the working life of bearings and seals. But long hours of hub crawling is physically and mentally demanding work. A useful idea is a centralized and automated lubrication system for wind turbines. One version for lubrication tasks in a nacelle can also handle…
A technician’s work is never done
Since it began commercial operation in 2002, Whitewater Hill Wind Farm in North Palm Springs, CA has helped supply 12,000 homes with clean power, displacing 130,000 tons of carbon dioxide (producing about 165 GWh annually). To help keep the 66-MW wind farm running properly, Whitewater Hill Wind Partners has awarded UpWind Solutions, Inc. a 5-year operations and maintenance agreement for post-warranty O&M services.
How to Keep Them Working 20 Years and Longer
Standard wind turbine gearbox warranties generally last two to three years, and when they expire, operations and maintenance professionals become responsible for keeping the turbines running for the remainder of their service lives. Considering that the average wind turbine is expected to operate for up to 20 years, maintenance professionals are challenged to maximize equipment…