Bearing temperature monitoring of a Wind Turbine using physics-based model. Issue 4 (9th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cambron, Philippe; Tahan, Antoine; Masson, Christian; Pelletier, Francis
• Is Part Of: Journal of quality in maintenance engineering. Volume 23:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 488
• Publication Date: 2017-10-09
• Subjects: Control chart -- EWMA -- Wind energy -- Bearing defect -- Health monitoring -- SCADA; Plant maintenance -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Total quality management -- Periodicals; Total productive maintenance -- Periodicals; 658.202
• DOI: 10.1108/JQME-06-2016-0028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-2511

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a method to monitor a Wind Turbine's (WT) main bearing, based on the difference between the temperature as measured by the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA). Design/methodology/approach: The monitoring of the main bearing is based on the difference between the measured temperature and the estimated temperature obtained from a dynamic model. The model used is based on the law of energy conservation. Several validation metrics have suggested that this model is accurate. Findings: The Exponentially Weighted Moving Average control chart for two cases studies is used for the monitoring for the main bearing; this method has shown great potential for industrial applications. A failure was detected three weeks before the current actual alarm settings used by SCADA were able to identify the issue. Originality/value: The proposed method is a monitoring method that can be used on most industrial wind farms and provide important information on the condition of the WTs' main bearing.