April 2010 SFL selected for Wind Turbine rotor blade monitoring
Smart Fibres has been selected by a European wind energy utility to implement rotor blade condition monitoring systems on two pilot turbines, with the possibility to roll out the capability to their whole turbine fleet. The system will give indication of blade load histories, rotor imbalance, gross blade damage, and the formation and melting of ice.
The utility is currently operating nearly 200 MW, with further capacity in production towards their goal of 1000 MW by 2012.
According to their representative, Smart Fibres were chosen because they offered a low cost, rugged system, together with a flexible, transparent approach towards integration and interpretation of their data within the customer's existing systems.
Smart Fibres systems are based on their SmartScan interrogator, developed for and proven within fixed wing military aircraft applications.
A low cost SmartScan system for the wind energy market was launched in 2009.