New ABB Ability remote services help boost wind parks’ performance

The new services are based on analysis of real-time data collected by the electrical drivetrain in wind turbines, consisting of the generator, frequency converter and transformer. As a major supplier of components for the electrical drivetrain, ABB is working closely with customers to lead the digital transformation of wind turbines.

With ABB’s new remote support systems, digital electrical drivetrains are connected via the internet to the cloud. Data from the converter and from sensors mounted on the generator and transformer will be stored in the ABB Ability cloud. The data will be processed in real time using smart algorithms and analytics, and used to perform diagnostics on drivetrain components. Key performance indicators relating to the components will be continuously monitored, providing visibility of the components to the wind park operator and enabling ABB to supply remote support.

“ABB is a leading manufacturer of electrical drivetrain components, and we have so far supplied converters for more than 16,000 wind turbines worldwide. Initially, the new ABB Ability services will be available for turbines that are based on ABB components, with future releases extending coverage to technology from other vendors,” says Teijo Kärnä, Industry Segment Manager for Wind, ABB Robotics and Motion division. “These new services mean wind park operators can progress from corrective and preventive maintenance to a proactive O&M strategy. This will improve turbine uptime and therefore boost annual energy production. Operators will also be able to plan their turbine maintenance in advance, which will help to reduce costs. These benefits have already brought us a significant agreement to provide condition monitoring services to one of the world’s largest wind power asset owners.”

Later releases of the service offering will add 24/7 remote assistance and predictive maintenance. Predictive maintenance can dramatically improve overall wind park performance. If a turbine starts to develop a defect, changes in the data coming from the turbine are detected by the ABB Ability algorithms and the system immediately sends an alert to the wind park operator. The operator can protect the turbine by operating it in a reduced run mode, and at the same time maintain the wind park’s output by balancing active and reactive power. The wind park can continue to meet grid code requirements and generate revenue, while maintenance is planned to repair the defective turbine with minimum downtime and maximum safety.