This type of failure is a significant problem in the wind industry. Pitch bearings connect the rotor hub to the blades, and experience high loading during the life of a turbine. There are many different modes of failure and the costs associated with fixing the faults are high, particularly if the turbine is offshore. In the most extreme cases a pitch bearing failure can lead to the catastrophic loss of a blade – obviously an event that must be avoided.
Based on its proven and award-winning condition monitoring system, ecoCMS – already installed in thousands of turbines worldwide, Onyx Insight has developed ecoPITCH, a revolutionary monitoring solution to identify pitch bearing faults before they occur.
ecoPITCH uses robust, innovative sensor hardware that is permanently installed in the hub and, through advanced data analytics, is able to detect early warning signs of impending pitch bearing failure. The system uses multiple data streams and advanced signal processing techniques, enabling operators to understand when faults are going to occur in this critical part of the turbine which is notoriously difficult to monitor.
“This is a really exciting and forward-thinking addition to Onyx Insight’s suite of tools and services, which are all geared towards improving turbine efficiency and reducing maintenance costs” said Dr John Coultate, Head of Product Development at Onyx Insight. “Pitch bearings are particularly difficult to monitor in real time, and our customers want absolute confirmation as to which bearings to change and when. We now have a revolutionary offering for assessing and comparing damage on any turbine or wind farm, which has the potential to save operators and owners significant capital in unscheduled maintenance.”
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