WIND TURBINE OPTIMIZATION

Testing, Inspection and Maintenance

 Inspection of a wind turbine.
Courtesy of Rope Partner, USA.

2
As environmental concerns escalate and the limits of fossil fuel
are approached, wind power has gained momentum as a viable
and cost-effective renewable energy source for the future.

Maximizing Performance and Minimizing

Maintenance Cost of Wind Turbines
As environmental concerns escalate and the limits of fossil
fuel are approached, wind power has gained momentum as
a viable and cost-effective renewable energy source for the
future.
Greater demands on efficiency of wind turbines result in con-
tinuous improvement of design, placement and perform-
ance. Given that modern wind turbines produce in excess of
2.5MW, the aerodynamic loads and structural demands on
the blades are increasing, being driven by the necessity for
longer and lighter blades. Consequently, there is a growing
need to incorporate new composite materials, making the
design, manufacture and maintenance of modern wind tur-
bines an ever increasing challenge. In addition, placing the
wind turbine farms at locations with optimal wind conditions
is important when optimizing the efficiency of each wind
turbine.
Your key to overcome these challenges is state-of-the-art
instrumentation for testing, inspecting and maintaining your
wind turbines.
Dantec Dynamics is a leading manufacturer of solutions for
• Deformation and strain measurements
• Non-destructive testing
• Air flow measurements
• Validation of computational models
Our instrumentation assists you in alleviating some of the
challenges associated with wind turbine design, manufacture
and maintenance to protect your investment.

3
 Ensuring Wind Turbine Blade Longevity
Over the course of its lifetime, a blade is exposed to many
factors that can lead to damage and fatigue. These include
cyclic operational loads and gust loading, as well as icing and
erosion. Ultimately, any of these factors may result in blade
failure.
Defects incurred during the manufacturing process, as well
as damage inflicted during blade transportation, may lead to
the failure or loss of turbine operation, if left undetected.
Non-contact measurement systems are employed in the
design, manufacture and quality assurance processes to
reduce the risk of blade failure through optimization of the
blade design and inspection of the blade for defects. Systems
for field use are also available.
In-field NDT test on rotorblades after a thunder storm accident.
4
Rapid and economical non-destructive testing for wind
power
The quality of a composite material has a strong influence
on the lifetime of a component. With a very complex manu-
facturing process, flaws can easily sneak into the process
and, in combination with high cyclical loads, result in failure
of vital components.
Non-destructive testing (NDT) is an important element in the
quality process for all composite material manufacturers and
users. For an economical NDT inspection of a wind turbine
blade, with its extreme size, a rapid method that covers a
large surface area per hour is needed. Shearography is the
fastest existing NDT method for composite materials and also
has a unique capability to detect wrinkles.
The image shows a typical result of a lighting strike at the blade tip.
The test result shows that the real defect is much larger than the
strike indications.
 In-field NDT test.
Courtesy of Rope Partner, USA.

In-field inspection can be carried out using a portable Deformation and strain measurements
shearography system with an integrated vacuum hood for Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a non-contact, full-field
attachment to the blade. Each measurement takes 15 optical technique that can measure 3D deformation and sur-
seconds. face strain on almost any material.
Materials that shearography can inspect include glass-fiber-
reinforced plastic (GFRP) and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic Typical applications for wind turbine blades include:
(CFRP). Defects including wrinkles, impact damage, delami- • Coupon testing
nation, dry-spots, cracks, voids, kissing bonds and much more • Crack propagation and fracture mechanics
can be detected. • Criticality assessment of defects or damage
• Full-size blade testing on:
Shearography can inspect areas at a rate of 15 m2 per hour - Internal structural components
(160 sq ft/hr) and requires no surface preparation. An auto- - External surface of the blade
mated production inspection system can inspect a full blade
in just a few hours.

Bending of a rotorblade for a fatigue test. A Q-400 DIC placed on a critical area for strain measurement in a
bending test (left). A typical strain field in an area with wrinkling
(right).

5
 Maximizing Power Output of Wind Turbine Farms
Air flow measurements around a wind turbine installation
can be important for the following applications:
• Blade design and aerodynamic modeling
• Flow-structure interaction and flow separation
• Placement of wind turbines
• Impact on and effects of submerged wind turbine towers
Optimizing Blade Design by Aerodynamic Modeling
Blade design is critical for optimizing the aerodynamic effi-
ciency of the turbine during light wind conditions. The
design, however, must also be strong enough to withstand
operational loads including gust loads. Dantec Dynamics is
helping you to meet these criteria by offering a range of
instruments for fluid flow investigations.
The near wake flow field behind a model wind turbine measured by
PIV. Courtesy of Prof. Massouh, ENSAM, Paris, France.
6
For aerodynamic modeling in wind tunnels Particle Image
Velocimetry (PIV) may be used. A PIV system provides an
instantaneous snapshot of a flow field which can be ren-
dered in a plane or volume providing information on all
three components of velocity.
The investigation of the far wake development is needed in
the case of wind farm design. The near wake structure is
relevant when the flow around the wind turbine is analyzed.
Flow-Structure Interaction and Flow Separation
As the blades of a wind turbine turn they are exposed to
different levels of pressure loading leading to deflection of
the blade. The flow around the blade and associated defor-
mation of the blade can be measured simultaneously using a
combination of optical deformation, strain and PIV measure-
ments.
Array of thin film sensors on a blade for detection of flow separation
and re-attachment.
Flow separation at the blade surface influences not only
aerodynamic efficiency but blade noise as well. To determine
the location of separation, you deploy a Constant
Temperature Anemometer (CTA), which derives flow infor-
mation from an array of thin film sensors attached to the
blade. As the blade rotates and the wind speed varies, the
separation point can be determined.
Proper Placement of Wind Turbines
The prevailing wind conditions are critical for determining
the location of wind turbines. Both the mean velocity at dif-
ferent heights as well as turbulence are important factors in
predicting power output and blade fatigue. Laser Doppler
Anemometer (LDA) or CTA is used to accurately measure the
airflow over geographical models in wind tunnels. LDA is an
optical technique to measure 3D velocity information at any
point in the flow.
Investigation of prevailing wind conditions over geographical models.
Courtesy of Force Technology, Denmark.
Minimizing Impact of Submerged Wind Turbine
Towers
Placement of off-shore wind turbine farms requires the con-
sideration of several factors in order to mitigate environmen-
tal impact. These include the farm's position relative to
ocean currents, ocean floor topography as well as the local
effects on the transportation of sediment and mixing of
ocean floor flows.
Many of these impacts can be prevented by proper model
investigation of flows and solid transport prior to installing
off-shore wind turbine farms.
Techniques including PIV, LDA or Phase Doppler
Anemometare (PDA) is used to provide information about
global and local flow structures and sediment size distribu-
tion. PDA is an extension to LDA providing velocity and par-
ticle size information.
Flow distribution around a bottom mounted cylinder.
Courtesy of University of Rostock, Germany.
7
About Dantec Dynamics

Dantec Dynamics is the leading provider of laser optical measurement systems and sensors.
Since 1947 we have provided solutions for customers to optimize their component testing
and products. Our large number of customers benefit from our quality solutions within:

Fluid Mechanics Thermal Comfort Strain, Stress & Vibration

Particle Characterization Microfluidics Non-destructive Testing

Combustion Diagnostics Process Control Disatac Tachometers

Worldwide representation
From our six offices and more than 30 representatives worldwide we
approach our customers individually. We examine the specific needs
and find the best solution for you. For us you are a long-term partner
in improving efficiency, safety and quality of life.
A list of representatives is available at our website.

DENMARK (headquarters) UNITED KINGDOM

Dantec Dynamics A/S Dantec Dynamics Ltd.
info@dantecdynamics.com uk@dantecdynamics.com

FRANCE USA
Dantec Dynamics S.A.S. Dantec Dynamics Inc.
france@dantecdynamics.com usa@dantecdynamics.com

GERMANY
Dantec Dynamics GmbH
germany@dantecdynamics.com

JAPAN
Dantec Dynamics K.K.
japan@dantecdynamics.com www.dantecdynamics.com
Publication .: 270_v3

The specifications in this document are subject to change without notice.

Dantec Dynamics is trademark of Dantec Dynamics A/S.