Wind turbines are often subject to brutal forces, extreme rotational speeds, and unpredictable conditions. Because of this, optimal lubricant condition is essential for reliable functioning; making lubricant analysis necessary to ensure reliable operation, minimize downtime, and extend the life of critical components.
WEAR OF KEY COMPONENTS
The wind turbine gearbox is generally considered the most important (and vulnerable) lubricated component. In fact, studies show that gearbox damage is the leading cause of downtime and the most expensive repair. In particular, the gears are susceptible to surface wear such as micro-pitting and scuffing.
In addition to gearbox damage, damage to the main shaft, bearings, and generator account for the majority of all downtime. As such, key components to monitor in wind turbines include:
• Gearboxes: Focusing on wear metals, water content, and particle count.
• Bearings: Looking for ferrous debris and contamination.
• Hydraulic Systems: To analyze oil cleanliness, water content, viscosity, and degradation.
There is no doubt that the cost of implementing a thorough fluid testing program aligned with regularly scheduled maintenance on a wind turbine installation pales in comparison with the cost of waiting until a failure becomes catastrophic.
TESTS EUROFINS TESTOIL RECOMMENDS FOR WIND TURBINES
• Kinematic Viscosity ASTM D445: Proper viscosity is essential for maintaining adequate film thickness in order to minimize internal friction and wear.
• Acid Number: ASTM D974: Increased acid number is a key indicator of lubricant degradation. Monitoring acid number will allow for an oil change before sludge and varnish form due to degradation.
• Water Content: ASTM D6304: Water contamination can result in accelerated fluid degradation and corrosion of metal surfaces.
• Elemental Analysis: ASTM D5185: To monitor changes in levels of additives and identify any wear materials or contaminants.
• FTIR Spectroscopy: E2412: FTIR spectroscopy can help identify lubricant degradation due to oxidation. FTIR analysis can also help determine when contamination has occurred.
• Particle Count: To gauge particulate contamination.
• Ferrous Wear Concentration: IWI 160: Measures the amount of ferrous wear debris present in a sample. May reveal changes in the wear mode of the system.
• Analytical Ferrography: IWI 180: Separates solid contamination and wear debris from the lubricant for microscopic evaluation. The microscopic evaluation can assess the quantity, size, and morphology of any wear particles present to help determine if an abnormal wear mode is occurring.
Other types of tests for wind turbines that Eurofins TestOil recommends are grease analysis and filter debris analysis. Ultimately, implementing a robust analysis program, allows wind turbine operators to detect issues early, reduce maintenance costs, and optimize performance.
To get started with oil analysis and training visit https://testoil.com/company/contact-us/; call 216-251-2510; or email sales@testoil.com.
About Eurofins TestOil
With more than 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, Eurofins TestOil focuses exclusively on assisting industrial facilities with reducing maintenance costs and avoiding unexpected downtime through oil and fuel analysis program implementation. As industry experts in diagnosing oil-related issues in equipment such as turbines, hydraulics, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and diesel generators, Eurofins TestOil provides customers with same-day turnaround on routine oil analysis testing. For more information on partnering with Eurofins TestOil on oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit https://testoil.com. Contact: Al Yates 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com.
About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing, and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience Contract Research services. Eurofins is also a market leader in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in BioPharma Contract Development and Manufacturing. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.
With over 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins’ companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods. Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.
