Abstract
Condition monitoring (CM) of wind turbine blades has significant benefits for wind farm operators and insurers alike. Blades present a particular challenge in terms of operations and maintenance: the wide range of materials used in their construction makes it difficult to predict lifetimes; loading is stochastic and highly variable; and access can be problematic due to the remote locations where turbines are frequently located, particularly for offshore installations. Whilst previous works have indicated that Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometers are viable devices for measuring the vibrations from which diagnostic information can be derived, thus far there has been no analysis of how such a system would be powered. This paper considers the power requirement of a self-powered blade-tip autonomous system and how those requirements can be met. The radio link budget is derived for the system and the average power requirement assessed. Following this, energy harvesting methods such as photovoltaics, vibration, thermal and radio frequency (RF) are explored. Energy storage techniques and energy regulation for the autonomous system are assessed along with their relative merits. It is concluded that vibration (piezoelectric) energy harvesting combined with lithium-ion batteries are suitable selections for such a system.
Highlights
Energy harvesting is the process by which low-density ambient energy is captured, converted and stored, if necessary, to provide low-power generation for powering electronic devices [1,2]
A number of different techniques have been proposed for the monitoring of wind turbine blades [20], this paper focuses on the design parameters and feasibility of an autonomous system that could be used for modal analysis
This paper has introduced the concept of a fully autonomous monitoring system for a wind turbine blade which has its own inbuilt power source
Summary
Energy harvesting is the process by which low-density ambient energy is captured, converted and stored, if necessary, to provide low-power generation for powering electronic devices [1,2]. This paper considers the issues surrounding the installation a wireless monitoring system within a wind turbine blade, which is fully self-contained, self-powered and able to transmit data concerning the condition of the blade to a base station on the ground. Such a system has various technical challenges, such as the provision of a power supply which can outlast the service life of the blade and the availability and location of sensors such as accelerometers that can be deployed within the structure to measure the various properties of the blade during operation.
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