Engineering news
The erosion of blade material is a “surprisingly costly problem”, said the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT).
“The blade material erodes due to the effect of rain, hailstones and sand dust, which significantly reduces the service life of wind turbines,” said VTT principal scientist Anssi Laukkanen. “Accelerated replacement of turbines becomes expensive – up to 2-4% of the value of all wind-generated power is lost as a result of this problem… that costs billions of euros and brings additional costs to all wind energy. As wind-turbine sizes increase and windfarms are placed out on the sea in increasingly demanding conditions, the significance of the problem becomes emphasised.”
Floating windfarms are frequently touted as one of the most promising future renewable energy sources, as new technologies allow operators to install turbines in previously untapped areas. Devices in floating farms could be particularly vulnerable to the elements if placed in more exposed sites further from maintenance crews on land.
The VTT used artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the issue in its AntiAGE project, aiming to improve turbine blade material, generally fibre-reinforced polymers. Researchers used software to simulate minute variations in the material used, virtually testing each one to find the best-suited option for wind turbines.
“AI is capable of unravelling very complicated cause-and-effect relationships, simulating solutions and going through an infinite number of alternatives to find the one that works best in relation to the requirements set,” said Laukkanen.
Manufacturing such highly tailored materials would be difficult with traditional techniques, the VTT said, so it is using 3D printing for its flexibility and ability to produce the desired material in any shape.
The result, an announcement said, was a “highly durable material that hardens when exposed to mechanical stress”. Professional Engineering has contacted Laukkanen for more details on the material properties.
Turbine manufacturers are interested in the work, the VTT said, and it is also considering other industry sectors.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.