The implementation of strategies to reduce operating and maintenance (O&M) costs and improve the residual reliability and availability of wind turbines are now a priority for wind energy operators. In fact, predictive maintenance scheduling based on the knowledge of the level of fatigue damage is necessary. Thus, this would help to avoid unexpected failures.
The main objective of this project is to provide a decision-making tool that allows a credible estimation of the residual fatigue reliability of a wind turbine. More specifically, the project aims to estimate the cumulative damage of a wind turbine using its operational history in order to establish a reliable prognosis, predict its lifetime, and thus optimize maintenance operations. A case study for a wind farm located in Quebec, Canada, is presented; it consists of 73 wind turbines. The research consists of estimating a precise profile of the mechanical stress applied to the wind turbines of the studied wind farm. This profile is then used to estimate the cumulative damage, and therefore for the prediction of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of the machine.
The findings of this project have a direct impact on the scheduling of maintenance and replacement operations for an existing wind farm. The results show that by using this model, a wind farm operator will be able to better direct the inspection and maintenance of its wind turbines based on the observed damage level. Furthermore, a reliable assessment of fatigue damage would be an accurate tool to reduce maintenance intervals and reduce the risk of equipment failure or, in the end, extend the lifetime of wind turbines.
| Date | 14 Dec 2020 |
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| Original language | French |
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| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
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| Supervisor | Antoine Tahan (Supervisor) & Philippe Cambron (Co-supervisor) |
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Khorchani, W. (Author),
Tahan (Supervisor) & Cambron (Co-supervisor),
14 Dec 2020Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Engineering