WindGEMINI Advances Wind Turbine Operations
DNV GL has launched WindGEMINI, its first online digital twin online tool giving wind farm owners and operators advanced insights into turbine condition and performance, enabling better informed wind operation decisions.
The WindGEMINI framework is based on digital twin technology, equipping users with digital copies of their wind turbines which are continuously updated in real-time, making use of the stream of information received from turbines and wind farm sensors, to reflect the real conditions experienced by the turbines on site. The tool gives owners and operators 24/7 access to key metrics and advanced analysis to understand the performance, condition and remaining life of a turbine and its components. This knowledge can be used to optimise servicing, inspections and plan repairs or replacements, thus minimising downtime and lost revenue, as well as informing financial modelling and strategic decision-making processes. The online tool gives owners and operators an easy, accessible way to unlock the value within their data and can be utilised across the entire portfolio, as it is compatible with any turbine model.
Operational benefits and applications of WindGEMINI include:
- A turbine life estimator uses aeroelastic modelling to estimate the effect of site conditions on the fatigue accumulation of the main structural components. It provides an estimate of the remaining life of a turbine which can be used to identify opportunities to extend life or upgrade turbines.
- Predictive analysis of the turbine drivetrain identifies patterns indicative of incipient failure modes and raises alerts with varying confidence levels. This information can be used by owners and operators to avoid failures, to optimise inspections and to reduce downtime.
- A power curve performance watchdog identifies shifts in the turbine power curves and sub-optimal control modes, so that they can be corrected to regain any potential energy losses.
- Structural integrity monitoring uses high-frequency data to identify issues, such as rotor imbalance and foundation degradation, which can have adverse effects on energy capture and turbine life.www.dnvgl.com