Advancing professionalism in harnessing wind energy

2 August 2019


TÜV SÜD is showcasing new services at Husum Wind 2019 to demonstrate that further optimisation of the safe harnessing of wind power is possible. Focus topics of TÜV SÜD's presence at the trade fair include assessments and inspections for the safe lifetime extension of wind energy turbines as well as presentation of TÜV SÜD Inspect, a convenient solution enabling operating companies to manage test reports and analyse and evaluate test results. (Hall 2, Stand 2E13) 

When the design life of a wind turbine generator (WTG) approaches its end, the operating company must decide whether to dismantle, modernise or continue to operate the WTG. TÜV SÜD's lifetime extension services for WTGs verify whether safe continued operation of a WTG or wind farm is possible.

The services are known under the product name of BPW, which stands for Bewertung und Prüfung über den Weiterbetrieb von WEA, the German equivalent of assessment and verification of the continued operation of WTGs. “Our lifetime extension services assess the loads and stresses to which a WTG has been exposed in its previous service life”, says Dr Martin Webhofer, head of Wind Energy at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. To do this, experts rely on computer simulations that examine both the design of the WTG and the conditions at its installation site.

On top of this, the wind-energy experts inspect the WTG on site to assess its state of repair. The outcome of the assessment is an expert report with information about the criteria (e.g. repairs, preventive replacement of bolts etc.) under which lifetime extension and continued operation are possible.”

These lifetime extension services provide operating companies with a detailed report on the state of repair of their WTGs. By transparently outlining the risks and opportunities involved in lifetime extension, this report establishes a sound basis for decision making. 

TÜV SÜD Inspect – effective tool for operating companies 

TÜV SÜD Inspect is a convenient vendor-independent solution for test-report management and dedicated test-result evaluation. “All test reports are retained on our audit-proof server and are available for targeted evaluation in TÜV SÜD Inspect", says Tim Krampe, Group Manager Inspections in the Wind Service Centre of TÜV SÜD Industrie Service. The user-friendly, intuitive interface gives managers a fast overview of their entire portfolio of turbines and other installations.

“TÜV SÜD Inspect also supports dedicated sorting by specific criteria, including by wind farm, turbine type or year of inspection, and linking to individual defect categories”, explains Krampe. “With TÜV SÜD Inspect, operating companies can see at a glance which areas are affected by significant or major defects and where immediate actions are called for.”

From this overview screen, users can directly access the underlying inspection reports in PDF format, which include specific information about the defects and the assemblies affected by them. TÜV SÜD Inspect is thus a particularly effective and professional instrument for medium-sized and large-scale operating companies of wind energy turbines and their managers, enabling them to keep their turbines' state of repair in view and ensuring targeted control of maintenance measures. Secure access to TÜV SÜD's audit-proof server is effected via login code, QR code or master identification. 

Wind energy services from TÜV SÜD TÜV SÜD can boast a long and successful track record in certification of onshore and offshore wind farms, wind turbines and their components. The international testing and certification organisation also supports planners, contractors, investors and owners, providing assistance with risk analyses, occupational health and safety concepts and quality assurance during construction. Other core fields of activity include quality assurance in component manufacturing and periodic testing and inspection throughout the service life of the wind turbines. www.tuvsud.com/windenergy



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