Maximize Wind Turbine Efficiency with Advanced Technologies
Operators of wind turbines are constantly looking to maximize both power output and profitability. Any tool that can reduce turbine maintenance requirements and improve reliability is incredibly useful. With a focus on creating solutions for customer problems, Regal Rexnord™ has employed Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology to provide smart monitoring of wind turbine braking systems, which improves turbine reliability while simultaneously increasing uptime.
In simple terms, wind turbine profitability is directly tied to its ability to generate power. Any unplanned breakdowns not only incur significant maintenance costs, but also decrease revenue streams due to lost energy output. In most cases, however, maintenance or repair can be challenging. Offshore wind turbines are often located 1-2 hours off land by boat, making them more challenging to reach. Additionally, critical systems such as the brakes are inside the nacelle at the top of the tower, which can be upwards of 300-500 feet high. As a result, equipment is hard to access, and often must be serviced at height. These challenges can increase the time and cost of maintenance, especially in emergency breakdown situations, further compromising power output and profitability. Reducing maintenance requirements and increasing reliability is therefore key for these installations.
Breeze Through Maintenance with Smart Solutions
To help operators of offshore wind turbines, Regal Rexnord provides 24/7 smart monitoring solutions that combine IIoT and data mining technologies to improve turbine uptime. A suite of sensors monitoring the braking system provides data on a variety of parameters such as system pressure, brake pad wear, brake position, brake piston, brake fluid levels, and temperature. This data is then uploaded to the cloud, where big data analytics is carried out to provide accurate diagnosis on the condition of key components, and crucially, to predict any potential reliability risks well in advance of failure. This means operators can eliminate unforeseen breakdowns and their costly repercussions. Moreover, data insights can inform a long-term preventative maintenance strategy, ensuring that specific brake components can be highlighted for repair or replacement at the optimum time.
Svendborg Brakes™, a Regal Rexnord brand, has solutions installed in over 200,000 wind turbines globally and Regal Rexnord IIoT solutions can be installed on any existing or new Svendborg Brakes system for permanent condition monitoring. The hardware required consists of an in-house developed Svendborg Brakes Gateway working in collaboration with a high security cloud gateway for a secure connection to the cloud.
If a non-permanent condition monitoring solution is needed, such as for commissioning or troubleshooting, the Universal Control (UC) Case, developed by Svendborg Brakes, provides this functionality for wind turbine brake systems. Contained in a compact, lightweight case, the UC Case can remotely access data from wind turbines and enable direct online intervention from technicians to aid maintenance work. Easily operated by a technician with general training, the UC Case uploads data to the Cloud or manually downloads to USB memory to allow offsite in-depth analysis of the braking system. Importantly for wind turbine operators, the UC Case has the ability to deliver significant cost savings when compared to the expense of transporting a technician to the installation. Furthermore, it offers a distinct advantage in terms of time, adding further value. This tool is suitable for use on all Svendborg braking systems.
Ensuring Reliability in Turbine Operations
By combining condition monitoring, IIoT technology, and in-depth data analysis to provide real-time insights and predictions, Regal Rexnord delivers the dual benefits of reducing turbine maintenance requirements while eliminating unforeseen breakdowns. For offshore wind turbine operators, this means that turbine uptime and reliability can be improved simultaneously. This not only delivers an increase in profitability due to maximized power generation, but also a maintenance cost advantage. Maximizing the benefits of green power generation relies on making environmentally friendly technologies such as offshore wind turbines as reliable and profitable as possible. With advances in IIoT technology, operators now have the tools to capitalize, keeping turbines running for longer, all while reducing downtime.
As the wind industry navigates through immediate challenges and long-term growth opportunities, Regal Rexnord’s decades of industry expertise, deep application knowledge, and rigorous testing delivers solutions that minimize risk and maximize value. Their focus is on driving profitability for OEMs and ensuring reliable operations for offshore wind farm owners. Regal Rexnord provides complete solutions for the Wind industry, from design and manufacturing to installation and continuous support.
