IPMS at WindEnergy2014 in Hamburg: Ice prevention for greater safety and optimized energy yields

While conventional ice sensors warn against ice after it has already formed, IPMS relies on a preventive system. That pays off for system operators, both in terms of safety and economically.

Ice formation on wind turbines

Temperatures around zero combined with high humidity, fog or rain can cause ice to form on the rotor blades and/or nacelles of wind turbines (WT). And that has far-reaching consequences, as it endangers people, vehicles and buildings due to falling ice. In addition, performance is reduced due to lower rotor blade aerodynamics, and the turbines may have to be deactivated, in many cases requiring days of waiting for better weather conditions, which can result in significant yield losses.

IPMS for safety and economy

With the ground-breaking IPMS, wind turbine operators benefit from a high-efficiency ice detection system. It detects potential ice formation at an early stage, and prevents elevated levels of ice on the rotor blades by enabling the wind turbines to react appropriately to the weather situation. That helps you minimize extended production downtime, risks to people and buildings, as well as material fatigue. A further advantage: Wind turbines with little or no icing can be reactivated and produce yields far earlier.

Continuous monitoring, user-defined deactivation

As an advanced development based on the EE33 humidity/temperature measurement system which has already proven itself in wind turbines, the IPMS ice detection system monitors weather conditions based on multiple parameters. The high-precision, integrated sensor system detects ambient conditions which can cause frost to form at the installation site, and immediately sends an “Ice” warning via e-mail including a report.

The owner or operator can then visually inspect the turbine via smartphone or computer using the air-conditioned network camera connected on-site – at any time of the day or night thanks to the spotlight. The operator can deactivate the wind turbine immediately, or have it stopped automatically based on a pre-defined alarm level. As soon as safe operation appears possible again, the IPMS automatically sends a message to that effect. The wind turbine can be restarted, e.g. after another remote camera visual inspection.

Ice can be detected and early warnings sent even when the rotor is at a standstill or there is no wind. Individually configurable parameters ensure that the system can be adapted to the WT location, and that it is not deactivated too early or too late due to an ice warning.

Simple assembly in the turbine or retrofitting on-site

The IPMS can be installed on the nacelle roof/weather mast of a wind turbine, either by the WT manufacturer or retrofitted on-site by a service provider. Depending on the wind farm layout, one or more IPMS units can be used to control an entire wind farm. Numerous optional features allow WT operators to customize the system for their individual requirements. A rain sensor can be installed for ice rain detection, or the measurement sensors can be coated for use offshore and in industrial environments, e.g. harbors.

Besides the EE33 humidity/temperature measurement system, the IPMS includes a network dome camera with a zoom function which swivels 360°, a spotlight for night-time operation, a compact cabinet incl. a 5.7” touchscreen, a dual-LAN router, an SD card for data recording and the necessary remote maintenance, operation and configuration software.

IPMS live at WindEnergy Hamburg 2014

The IPMS ice prevention system offers WT operators proactive management for greater safety, higher availabilities and optimized energy yields. The LEINE LINDE SYSTEMS GmbH team gives customers and potential customers from the wind power industry the opportunity to experience the new product live: for the first time at this year’s WindEnergy Hamburg from September 23 to 26, 2014. At the leading wind energy trade fair, the company will present numerous other innovative solutions for wind turbines and related technologies at Booth 454 in Hall B6. Among others, ADSR, an intelligent solution for condition-based maintenance of slip rings in wind turbines, is being presented.

LEINE LINDE SYSTEMS at WindEnergy Hamburg, 09/23 to 09/26/2014, Hall B6, Booth 454.