V-327, ”Reliability modeling and optimal maintenance management for wind power systems”

Project leader: Lina Bertling, Chalmers
 

Timeplan: jan 2010-jun 2012
 

Finance:1 875 kSEK from Vindforsk III and 350 kSEK ias in kind
 

Description:

A substantial part of the cost of energy from wind power is attributed to Operation and Maintenance. One way to cut the costs - and to increase availability - is to improve maintenance strategies and planning. This was the subject of the Vindforsk II project “optimal maintenance management for wind power systems” (V-210) for which the current Vindforsk III project is a continuation.

The project aims at developing models for optimal maintenance management, which could be used in practice for achieving cost-efficient maintenance strategies. The project will focus on data-driven maintenance decision models adapted to the wind power industry.

The work is separated into two interconnected part of: reliability modeling, and maintenance modeling and optimization. The major focus in this project is on
the maintenance modeling and optimization.

The reliability modeling part will focus on life time models applicable to components in wind turbines based on the failure data and maintenance data (i.e. inspection, deterioration) available.  

The maintenance modeling and optimization part will focus on the modeling of maintenance and its effect on the reliability and availability of wind turbines. The objective is to identify optimal maintenance strategies and to optimize their implementation. The work will focus at two levels:

·         Component level, where possible maintenance strategies such as age replacement, inspection based or condition monitoring based will be optimized and compared for specific components or group of components. This is a direct continuation of the reliability modeling part.

·         System level, where the planning of the maintenance activities for a wind power system, including service maintenance, minor and major maintenance, spare part management, will be optimized.

The project is carried out at Chalmers University of Technology at the Division of Electric Power Engineering and within the research group on Wind Power Asset Management (WindAM).  Tech lic Francois Besnard is Ph.D. student within the project. He took his technical licentiate degree in December 2009 (sponsored within Vindforsk II, then affiliated to KTH). Prof. Lina Bertling is project leader and main supervisor for the Ph.D. student project. Associate Professor Ola Carlson is assistant supervisor.

In kind work to project will be added by Vattenfall for a case study of the Lillgrunden wind farm and by SKF who will provide data from condition monitoring systems for case studies.

Referencegroup

Maria Danestig, Energimyndigheten (chair. and Vindforsk contactperson)

Solgun Furnes, Energi Norge

Thomas Stalin, Vattenfall Vindkraft

Per Carlsson, Göteborg Energi

Gunnar Olsson Sörell, Fortum

Inge Aasheim, SKF

Jorn Heggset, Sintef

Anders Björck, Elforsk

 

Presentations

Presentation at Vindforsk program conference 25 nov 2009

 

Links:

Licentiate report from Vindforsk II

Chalmers Electrical Power Engineering