A swing arm rig was used for this experimental work (Fig. Pure water was used to replicate the onshore rain, while salt water was used to replicate the rain in the offshore environment. Experimental work was carried on G10 epoxy glass laminate in onshore and offshore simulated laboratory conditions of the wind turbine blade application. This research work involves the testing and researching of different advanced materials suitable for the use in onshore and offshore renewable energy devices. Leading edge erosion of wind turbine blades is an important issue as it can have effects on power output due to increased drag. Due to its good mechanical strength and economics of materials selection and reasonable price, polymeric matrix fibre-reinforced composites are being used as rotor blade materials still facing tribological challenges such as leading edge erosion. ĭespite wind being an advanced renewable technology, there are still rotor blade material-related issues with the wind turbine. The literature also shows that the blade and tower damages are the most common structural source damage in the offshore environment, which is found on wind turbines. Three rotor blades share 20–30% of the total investment of a wind turbine depending upon the installation of the wind turbine, i.e. The repair of a damaged wind turbine rotor blade is the most expensive and time-consuming task. The high saline offshore atmosphere leads to corrosion issues as well. There are many environment-related factors, such as rain impingement, the high velocity of wind and sea spray, which influence the performance of the rotor blade’s leading edge in respect of erosion and impact. Moreover, in the offshore environment, wind turbines run in the most critical operating conditions. that the lift reduces and the drag increases at the high level of leading edge erosion, which is common for the wind turbine rotor blades. This is equal to 25% loss in energy annually. The literature shows that for mild erosion, there is around 6% increase in drag, while for the severe there could be an increase up to 500% drag. Leading edge erosion leads to an increase in drag on the blades. The leading edge erosion of the rotor blade is a major issue of the wind turbine and it can be a very serious issue even after 2 years of turbine operation, which is much earlier than the expected time. Researchers have investigated the different environmental degradation effects, with special emphasis on raindrop and the hailstone impact of the wind turbine blade leading edge. The increasing advances in wind energy technology, associated with the changeable operational environment, significantly increase erosion effects on the leading edge of the turbine blades. Erosion is a wear phenomenon of a wind turbine blade which results in mass loss and surface damages exposed to raindrops in this case. There are several material-related problems with the wind turbine blades including an important one, i.e. It converts wind energy into mechanical energy to rotate the electric generator. The wind turbine rotor blade is an important component of this device. By appropriate research on materials, location, environment, etc., of the wind turbine the reliability, availability and energy production cost can be reduced. Current wind turbines are very expensive to instal and to keep them running especially in the offshore locations.
With the progress of onshore and offshore wind energy industry, different approaches have been being exercised to control the energy cost and increase the reliability of the wind turbines. The wind turbine location environments and weather conditions have a significant impact on the operation and maintenance process, which are directly linked to energy production cost, performance, efficiency and life of the device. As a result, components repair cost and reliability of wind turbines are increasingly of research interest.Īfter the European Union agreed on a framework for the climate and energy production, the cost of energy from the wind turbine has gained much importance. The unpredictable extreme weather conditions and location effects have increased the failure rate of the onshore and offshore wind turbines. The main challenge is to increase the reliability and availability of wind turbine to get maximum energy from this resource at a comparatively reduced cost. Nowadays the need for renewable energy such as wind power is crucial. The technology behind wind power is not a new concept people have been capturing and taking advantage of wind power over the centuries.
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