Department of Electrical Engineering Wind Turbine Blade Cleaning Autonomous System Department of Electrical Engineering Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management, Ahmedabad December 2016

Outline Introduction Automated Wind Turbine Cleaning System Analysis Automated Wind Turbine Cleaning System Base Movement The Lifting Arm Operation The Operation of Guide Rail The Operation of the Cleaning Robot Economics Consideration in Proposed Design Conclusion

Figure 1 Double stall resulting in reduced power extraction Introduction The Power curve (1 MW turbine)-affected by double stall (blue) in relation with the manufacturer's power curve (red) at different wind speeds:* * Figure 1 Double stall resulting in reduced power extraction *Dust Effect on the Performance of Wind Turbine Airfoils, Nianxin Ren1,*, Jinping Ou1,2 accepted March 3rd, 2009.

Analysis Affection of Different roughness on the Wind turbine Blades Smooth Blade (No roughness) Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time Uniform pressure difference across the wind turbine and there exists minimal turbulence and more flow attachment on the blades. Figure 2 Results of Smooth blade

Even roughness (1 mm) on blades Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time Analysis contd. Even roughness (1 mm) on blades Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time Non-uniform difference in pressure, more turbulence and lesser attachment of flow to the turbine’s blades as compared to the smooth blade condition Figure 3 Results of even roughness of blades

Uneven roughness on blades Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time Analysis contd. Uneven roughness on blades Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time 1 mm on Two Blades and 1.5 mm on One Blade. Non-uniform difference in pressure, more turbulence and quite lesser attachment of flow to the turbine’s blades as compared to the even roughness on blade condition. Figure 4 Results of Uneven roughness of blades

Figure 5 Different type of cleaning methods of Wind Turbine Blades. * * *Maintenance robot for wind power blade cleaning, Minseok Jeon 1, Byunggon Kim 1, Sora Park 1, and Daehie Hong 2 Figure 5 Different type of cleaning methods of Wind Turbine Blades.

Figure 6 Automated Blade Cleaning System Automatic Wind turbine blade Cleaning System Patent Filling Date: 09/12/2016 Patent Filling Application no: 201621042384 Title: Robotic Device and Method for Automated Cleaning of Wind Turbine Blades Figure 6 Automated Blade Cleaning System

Figure 7 Movement of the Base along with the robots. Flow Chart of Base movement Figure 7 Movement of the Base along with the robots.

Figure 8 Methodology of Operation of the Guide rail. Flow chart of Operation of the Guide rail Figure 8 Methodology of Operation of the Guide rail.

Figure 9 Lifting arm for placing the robots on the blades. Flow chart of Operation of Lifting Arm Figure 9 Lifting arm for placing the robots on the blades.

Operation of The Cleaning Robot The Cleaning Robot, consists of various sensors, suspension wheels, guide-wheels, brush and ultra-light weight body. Figure 10 The Blade Cleaning Robot

Figure 11 Description of Motion of the Cleaning Robot. Flow Chart of Operation of Cleaning Robot Figure 11 Description of Motion of the Cleaning Robot.

Economic Consideration in Proposed Design Table 1: Comparison on Existing and Proposed Solutions Specification Manual Semi-automatic Proposed Soltuion Cleaning time (per turbine) 4 x 3 hrs 2.5 x 3 hrs 1/2 - 3/4 hrs Labour Intensive High Moderate Low or None Water Consumption Operational Condition Stopped Running Safety Unsafe for blade and Labours Safe Economics viability Uneconomical Economical Loss of Power generation 3600 kW (300 kW-h*4 ) 2250 kW (300 kW-h*2.5) Power required for robot

Relevant Patent Filed From IITRAM

Conclusion Power loss due to dust accumulation (Serious concern). In Solution, The proposed automated system-most efficient and Economical. This system nullifies additional loss due to existing solutions. In Future, to perform running cost evolution for this proposed solution. Right now I don’t have that lifting arm design so I am not attaching it with this. Ravi have that design.