Long-Lived Despite Harsh Winds

Abstract

The RAVE project Further Development of Offshore Wind Turbine Components with Respect to Cost, Longevity and Servicing Convenience focused on the resilience of the components, improved monitoring controls, increased maintenance intervals and easier servicing of a Senvion 5M wind turbine. One approach to the subject of easier servicing is the possibility of being able to exchange as many of the components as possible when required, including the dismountable gearbox, with the aid of the existing deck crane. This would mean that service work could be carried out if possible without the use of a large external crane and the associated logistics equipment like a jack-up vessel. Where the optimisation of the monitoring controls is concerned, the project analysed the interactions of the mechanical, aerodynamic and electrical components with one another using a holistic approach, and the results were taken into consideration for the development and use of new components or control procedures.