Wind Energy

Load Measurement System for Individual Pitch Control

The current development trend is towards larger, higher power wind turbines in order to reduce the ultimate generating cost per kWh. Increasing wind turbine size implies larger rotor diameters. 

Large rotors are more susceptible to variations in wind speed and intensity across the swept area resulting in:

  • Increased asymmetric loading on blades, main-shaft and structural components
  • Reduce efficiency
  • Increased component wear
  • Increase amount of maintenance downtime
  • Premature machine failure

SOLUTION

Uneven loads can be overcome by designing the pitch control system to incorporate Individual Pitch Control (IPC), a system which dynamically adjusts the pitch of each blade, many times per rotation. This system optimizes the loading on the rotor and eliminates damaging bending movements in the blades, drive train and tower.

Moog's IPC system supplies accurate, real-time, load information from each blade to the turbine's blade pitch control system, so that the resultant loading on blades, drive train and tower can be reduced through intelligent management of the blade pitch in response to real time loads. 

Management of the loads from the blades reduces wear on components, downtime and maintenance costs while increasing efficiency through increased turbine operation, reduced friction and increased wind utilization. Numerous studies have shown load reductions of 10-30% on key turbine components, both in fatigue and extreme loads, with a concomitant increase in life or reduction in component cost.

Implementation of IPC on existing platforms is enabling some turbine manufacturers to upgrade current platforms by fitting larger blades to existing machines and managing the increased loads resulting in very significant savings in new turbine development costs.

Literature

Data Sheet - Insensys Load Measurement System for Individual Pitch Control

Overview - Wind Energy Solutions

Datos hoja - Sistema Insensys de Medición de Cargas para Control Individual de Pitch

How wind turbine manufacturers and operators use IPC

  • Improve performance of existing machines
  • Reduce turbine costs at concept stage
  • Improve reliability
  • Enable the next generation of wind turbines

 

News

Moog Strengthens its Wind Energy Business Through Re-branding of Insensys Offering

Moog Inc.has completed the integration of the Insensys acquisition and will now market all of its offerings under the Moog brand. Insensys individual pitch control and rotor blade monitoring systems for wind turbines have been incorporated into Moog’s product portfolio on a global basis. This strengthens and extends Moog’s range of pitch control solutions for the wind energy industry. Moog completed the acquisition of Insensys in April 2009.

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