Wind energy sensors for asset effectiveness
Wind energy sensors for asset effectiveness
Gill provides diverse sensor solutions for the wind energy market, ranging from continuous turbine gearbox condition monitoring through to wind measurement for wind profiling and wind turbine control as well as level sensing for oil levels and other liquids.
Gill products are very suited to the difficult access and exposed conditions common in wind energy generation. They offer total reliability combined with high accuracy and, crucially, require no regular maintenance. This is due to Gill’s use of highly effective solid-state technology (no moving parts). Gill ranges are renowned for their robust, fit-and-forget reliability!
Gearbox condition
Continuous condition monitoring detecting wear at the earliest stage. Increases reliability, reduces downtime & supports predictive maintenance
Wind measurement
Ultrasonic wind speed & direction data optimises turbine efficiency for wind conditions. Wind profiling allows calculation of predicted maximum power outputs
Oil / liquid levels
Capacitive liquid level sensors indicate low oil levels, oil loss and leaks. Poor lubrication can result in bearing wear, contamination and spalling – all causes of catastrophic failure
Gearbox condition
Real-time condition monitoring detecting wear at the earliest stage. Increases reliability, reduces downtime & supports predictive maintenance
Wind measurement
Ultrasonic wind speed & direction data optimises turbine efficiency for wind conditions. Wind profiling allows calculation of predicted maximum power outputs
Oil / liquid levels
Capacitive liquid level sensors indicate low oil levels, oil loss and leaks. Poor lubrication can result in bearing wear, contamination and spalling – all causes of catastrophic failure
Gearbox condition monitoring
The installation of condition monitoring sensors increases reliability, reduces downtime and extends asset life.
WearDetect oil debris sensors continuously monitor ferrous wear at the heart of the gearbox, providing the earliest maintenance warnings. WearDetect is easy to install and interpret results, enabling a data driven maintenance programme to increase asset effectiveness.
Oil level monitoring
Liquid level sensors indicate low oil or oil loss, providing the data to prevent poor lubrication leading to wear and potential asset damage or failure.
Gill capacitive liquid level sensors provide accurate and reliable continuous liquid level measurement suitable for demanding environments and applications. With robust construction and no moving parts, Gill level sensors provide excellent long-term reliability resulting in lowest lifetime cost of ownership.
Wind measurement
Ultrasonic wind speed and direction sensors provide reliable data to increase asset effectiveness. Using solid-state technology, they have no moving parts to wear or recalibrate making them extremely accurate, reliable and low maintenance.
Anemometers impact turbine efficiency by providing precision data to steer the turbine or control the blades. While turbine safety relies on accurate, real-time wind speed data to inform system shut down in high wind conditions.
Site assessment
During the site assessment phase, ultrasonic wind sensors are used to profile wind conditions and understand the wind energy potential.
Condition monitoring right at the heart of the wind turbine gearbox:
- Receive alerts at the earliest stages of equipment fatigue with continuous wear debris monitoring
- Optimise operating costs based on direct wear measurement
- Data supports predictive maintenance to eliminate unplanned downtime
- Extend working life
Ultrasonic wind sensors for accurate feedback and control of wind turbines:
- Maximise turbine efficiency - robust, solid-state wind sensors provide the precision wind speed & direction information used to automatically steer the turbine and control the blades for maximum efficiency
- Turbine safety - accurate and reliable wind speed data in storm conditions provides the data to shut down and ensure system safety
- Wind profiling using highly accurate ultrasonic wind sensors provides the reliable data needed to calculate power output
Liquid level monitoring - robust and totally reliable:
- Reliable, continuous oil level measurement
- Robust contruction suitable for hostile and remote environments
- Output options to integrate with industry standard systems
Typical wind energy applications
Gearbox wear sensor
Wind turbine gearbox monitoring supports proactive, data-informed, maintenance scheduling.
Nacelle anemometer
Ultrasonic wind sensors on turbines measure wind speed and direction to optimise energy capture.
Wind profiling
Wind profiling using ultrasonic anemometers assesses available wind resources for wind farm siting.
Liquid level monitoring
Robust capacitive liquid level sensors provide continuous oil level data ensuring equipment runs optimally.
Want to find out more?
With the number of wind turbines rapidly increasing worldwide, the latest models often come equipped with condition monitoring systems as standard, ensuring constant availability. Oil debris monitoring complements these systems, further enhancing the reliability and longevity of the turbines.
Existing turbines, particularly those no longer under OEM warranties, can be easily retrofitted with oil debris monitoring and oil level sensors, significantly improving their reliability and extending their operational life.