Structural Monitoring System for Offshore Wind

Turbine Foundation Structures

ewec 2006, Athens
28 February
J. Wernicke, S. Kuhnt, R. Byars, J. Shadden (WindForce GmbH)

The Idea of WAVEMON

Knowledge of Foundation Load History of individual
Offshore Wind Turbines throughout Lifetime for:
Predictive Maintenance
Residual Lifetime Estimation
Design Verification
Load Reduction

WAVEMON
Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation Control

Targets

Measuring of Height, Direction and Frequency of Ocean Waves

Measuring of Wind- and Tide Currents
Traceability of single Events (extreme Loads, Ship Collisions, etc.)
Traceability of fatigue Loads for residual Lifetime Estimation
Monitoring of Design Parameters
Decreasing of Wave Loads via Turbine Control
Monitoring of the Foundation Structure for early Detection of Damages
and for determining predictive Maintenance
Demonstration of Insurability of Foundation Structures
WAVEMON Technology

Fibre optical sensors (FOS)

Advantages towards Strain Gauges

Number of Sensors per Array

Simple Installation, small Sensor Mass

Increased operational safety

No electrical Conductivity in the Sensor System
No EMI Problems with Data Acquisition
no Corrosion

High Quality of Measurement and long term Stability

No moving Parts in Evaluation System
Lifetime >20 years
Simple Field Installation
Simple Calibration in Field
No Movement of zero Point
No Hysteresis

Complete Solution:
WAVEMON - Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation Control

Performance

Structural Monitoring
Condition Monitoring of the Monopile and its Support Conditions. Single Events can
be documented and the Relevance towards Failure can be estimated.

Adaptive Control
Damping of Wave Loads.

Predictive Maintenance
Service Activities based on Event logging and Data Evaluation

Residual Lifetime Estimation

Comparison of individual Load History during Operation with Design Load
Simulations

Project plan

Installation and testing of the Measurement System in a Monopile of

a Wind Met Mast
Analysis of Load Data and dynamic Behaviour, Comparison with
Simulation
Development of Methods for controlling and operating, based on
Variables
Development of Methods for assuring the Application Process in
serial Production in Offshore Installations

WAVEMON
Development trend

Integration in Remote Monitoring

Standard for Performance Supervision and Design Verification
Development of a Wind Park Management System based on Load
Data
Structural monitoring of Concrete Towers

Example of a WAVEMON Field Application

Location of the Met Mast

Array Positions

Pictures of the Prototype Installation

Met Mast

Measurement Results
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Copyright2005 WindForce GmbH

Sensor_4

Frequency Analysis

0.75

0.5

FFT_Sensor_4

0.25

Frequenz [Hz]

0.1

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0.3

0.4

Copyright2005 WindForce GmbH

0.5

0.6

0.7

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0.9

Thank you for your Attention!

Die Entwicklung wird teilweise finanziert durch Mittel aus dem PFAU Programm
der BIS Bremerhaven
WindForce GmbH wird untersttzt durch Mittel des GRW Programms des
Landes Bremen

www.wind-force.com
jens.wernicke@wind-force.com