Sensors increase the efficiency of wind turbines
Even minimal aerodynamic and mass-related imbalances are detected
Imbalances in rotor blades reduce the efficiency of many wind turbines and therefore jeopardize the climate goals of Germany ’s federal government. Capacitive accelerometers from A S C are
helping to improve the situation: They measure all vibrations critical for wind turbines to allow systematic preventive maintenance of wind energy conversion systems .
The energy transition in Germany is possible only by substantially expanding the use of wind energy.
However, only 23.7 % of the country ’s power requirements are currently met by wind energy conversion*, and these systems are far from achieving their full potential.
One reason for this is imbalance in the rotor blades, which often reduce efficiency substantially. The use of capacitive accelerometers from ASC allows wind park operators to detect and remedy imbalances in a timely manner.
The sensors optimally measure vibrations that are critical for wind turbines, therefore providing information about aerodynamic or mass-related imbalances in the rotor blades . Such imbalances can result from ice accumulation or erosion, and have drastic effects on the efficiency of the wind turbine. While mass-related imbalances primarily cause damage to the wind turbine, aerodynamic imbalances additionally reduce the electricity yield. In a 2 MW system, the average loss of yield due to imbalances costs about 20,000 euros per year.
Wind turbines can therefore achieve full efficiency only if imbalance measurements are carried out regularly. Capacitive accelerometers from A S C play a key role here, since they optimally measure the vibrations that are critical for wind turbines . The triax ial accelerometers ASC 5511LN and ASC 5515LN offer not only exceptional signal and amplitude resolutions of < 20 μg (< 0.2 mm/ s2), but also operate reliably in the range of rotor frequencies to be evaluated (< 0.5 Hz).
Capacitive accelerometers from ASC are helping wind park operators to increase the efficiency of their systems . They therefore play an important role in the energy transition and climate protection.
