Wind turbines are an important part of the growing renewable energy sector. Their effectiveness and efficiency are extremely important for the production of green energy. Hence regular inspection of wind turbine blades plays a key role. Why is it so important? Let’s take a closer look at this topic.
The wind turbine blade is one of the key structural elements of a wind turbine. The kinetic energy of the wind rotates the blades of the wind turbine and is converted into mechanical energy in the form of the rotation of the rotor. The mechanical energy is then transferred through the shaft and gear to the generator. There it is converted into electricity, and then leaves the generator and heads to the nearby substation. At the substation, the transformer increases the voltage of the electricity so that it can be efficiently transmitted through the national electricity grid. The electricity is then used to power our homes, businesses and institutions.
As can be seen in the entire process, wind turbine blades play one of the most important roles and are extremely important in the entire course of events. That is why it is so important to carry out regular checks.
Discover the top 5 reasons to inspect wind turbine blades
1. Early damage detection
Regular inspections allow early detection of any damage, including cracks, deformation, surface defects or corrosion. This allows quick corrective action to be taken before the damage becomes more serious and negatively impacts turbine performance.
2. Maintaining optimal aerodynamics
Wind turbine blades are designed to make maximum use of wind energy. Even minor damage can reduce the aerodynamic efficiency of the blades, which leads to a decrease in the efficiency of the entire turbine. Regular inspections help maintain the optimal shape and surface condition of the blades, which transformes into higher energy efficiency.
3. Safety of personnel and surroundings
Damage to the blades can lead to dangerous situations both for the staff operating the turbines and for the environment. Regular inspection allows you to identify potential hazards and take appropriate preventive measures to ensure safe working conditions.
4. Optimal maintenance planning
Blade inspections provide important data on technical condition and give out, which allows you to develop an optimal maintenance plan. By regularly monitoring the blades, you can pinpoint when repairs or replacements will be required, minimizing downtime in energy production.
5. Long-term profitability
Regular inspection and thus maintenance of the blades in good condition transformes the long-term profitability of wind turbines. Detection and repair of damage on an ongoing basis allows you to avoid costly emergency repairs often associated with longer wind turbine downtime and loss of efficiency, which contributes to greater economic efficiency of the entire system.
Summary
Checking the condition of the wind turbine blades is essential to ensure safe, but also effective and sustainable operation of the turbine. Regular inspections allow early detection of problems, minimizing the risk of failure and maintaining optimal performance, which transforms long-term success and return on investment in wind energy.
If you are interested in inspecting wind turbine blades on your farm, please contact us. Below we leave more information on carrying out inspections with an industrial drone and present the benefits of performing such a service over traditional methods (inspections using rope access techniques).
Industrial drone inspections
With the DJ Matrice 300 RTK drone, we perform e.g. inspections of wind turbine blades. This equipment uses thermography and high-resolution optical cameras, which ensures effective technical monitoring of the facility.
Check the benefits of using an industrial drone
High accuracy of measurements and documentation – A collection of accurate data and measurements supports analysis and taking appropriate action.
Safe and non-intrusive inspections – Accurate inspection in hard-to-reach places. Reducing the risk of working at height.
Reducing Turbine Downtime – Regular drone inspections help identify problems at an early stage, helping to minimize wind turbine downtime. Performing inspections using industrial drones significantly shortens the inspection time while maintaining greater inspection accuracy compared to traditional methods. This translates into significant savings, as each turbine downtime is associated with relative losses due to the lack of electricity generation during the inspection. The shorter the inspection time, the greater the benefit for the wind farm operator.
Inspection of the internal structure of the blades – Using thermal imaging cameras, we can detect damage not only on the surface of the blades, but also those in the internal structure of the blades.
