Blade surface damage alerts for wind operators

Acoustic patterns from rotating blades give wind-farm maintenance teams a record for examining changing surface condition. EOLOGIX-PING's SURFACE HEALTH application uses the ON-TOWER arrangement to analyse sound caused by airflow over damage or disturbances. The monitoring record helps operators identify the turbines that warrant a closer surface inspection.

An Intelligent Listening Sensor, or ILS, mounts at the turbine base with magnets or adhesive. A cable connects it to a separate Power and Communication Module, or PCM. The module handles power and managed LTE-M cellular reporting, with an installation orientation that permits solar charging. Software examines the collected acoustic patterns and changing condition trends. The installation covers at least five turbines, providing the multi-turbine arrangement specified for this application.

Staff review a notification, compare the reported change and organise a visual inspection of the selected turbine. The service also supports monitoring of an existing issue, allowing the team to examine later changes in its acoustic record. Dashboard access, notifications, training and support accompany the supplied hardware package. The inspection establishes the physical defect and its repair requirements, while the recorded sound patterns provide the continuing context for the maintenance review.