Page 42 - North American Clean Energy July August 2015

wind power

Tools for Maximizing Wind Turbine ROI

by Santhosh Chandrabalan

Maximizing the eiciency of wind turbines is a vital consideration for operators, and the blade, but also impacts its aerodynamic eiciency, causing a signiicant loss in AEP. his

managing erosion is a vital method to achieve this. Studies from various sources have loss can be compounded by the downtime that is necessary to make repairs to turbines,
consistently shown that erosion can lead to a loss in annual energy production (AEP) of up so owners have important motivations for protecting blades against erosion and making
to 20% in severe cases. his igure is hard to ignore, and highlights the ROI beneits that repairs quickly. Sometimes, in severe cases of erosion, blade replacement may be necessary.
can be achieved from paying close attention to erosion. In addition to minimizing erosion,

owners must also look for additional ways to maximize the aerodynamic eiciency of Fortunately, a variety of efective solutions are available for this task, including:
blades. Doing so can result in AEP boosts that are well worth the efort.
• Wind Protection Tapes
Eforts must be made in both managing erosion and in maximizing aerodynamic As previously stated, downtime for turbine repairs is costly, so the best defense for turbine
eiciency. It is necessary to understand the causes and efects of leading edge erosion, operators is to ensure that blades are as protected as possible against erosion, and that

and to bring education to the industry on this problem. he heart of the issue is the fact when repairs do occur, they are performed with maximum eiciency. Wind protection tape
that wind blades come into contact with rain, hail, salt spray, and other debris in the air is the product with the longest track record in the industry. his technology is based on the
at rotation speeds up to 250 mph, leading to erosion in the form of pitting, gouging, and same type of tapes that have been used for decades to protect helicopter blades and aircraft
delamination of the edge of the blade. his erosion not only compromises the integrity of
radomes.

Wind protection tape is an efective
and proven solution that uses tough,
abrasion-resistant polyurethane

elastomers applied to the blade to help
protect against pitting, wear and water
ingression. Wind protection tape can be
applied either in the factory or in the

ield via rope or platform access.

• Wind Blade Protection Coating
One good option for protecting blades is

a polyurethane coating that is applied by
the OEM via brush or casting. A coating
designed to be tough like this gives

the blade the layer of defense needed
against damage caused by sand and rain
erosion, as well as minor impacts. Both
the tape and coating can help maintain

turbine eiciency and reduce downtime,
and ultimately extend the useful life of
blades.

• Epoxy & Polyurethane Fillers
When a blade is past the point of
protection and needs actual repair,
minor damage can be treated with a iller

made out of epoxy or polyurethane. In
addition to being used to repair minor
damage on wind blade surfaces during

42 JULY/AUGUST 2015
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