Active Diagnostic Experimentation on Wind Turbine Blades with Vibration Measurements and Analysis

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Abstract This paper deals with the key operational problems of wind turbosets, especially offshore, where vibrations are generated by rotor blades, as a consequence of erosive wear or icing. The primary causes of the imbalance of wind turbine rotors have been characterised, the observable symptoms of which include various forms of vibrations, transmitted from the turbine wheel to the bearing nodes of the power train components. Their identification was the result of an active diagnostic experiment, which actually entered the aerodynamic-mass imbalance of a turbine rotor into a wind power train, built as a small scale model. The recording of the observed monitoring parameters (vibration, aerodynamic, mechanical and electrical) made it possible to determine a set of symptoms (syndrome) of the deteriorated (entered) dynamic state of the entire wind turboset. This provides the basis for positive verification of the assumed concept and methodology of diagnostic testing, the constructed laboratory station and the measuring equipment used. For this reason, testing continued, taking into account the known and recognisable faults that most often occur during the operation of offshore wind turbosets. Transferring the results of this type of model research to full-size, real objects makes it possible to detect secondary (fatigue) damage to the elements transmitting torque from the wind turbine rotor to the generator early, especially the thrust bearings or gear wheel teeth.