HBM technology ensures wind power forges full speed ahead!

When turbines go down due to maintenance issues or equipment failure, the expense of repair crews and crane day rates can send costs per kilowatt hour soaring, not to mention potentially long delays waiting for spare parts, which can further increase costs. Often operating in harsh conditions such as high winds and storms and in remote locations, HBM measurement technology helps to identify mechanical stress on wind turbine components at an early stage, subsequently minimising potential downtime.

In addition, professional software from HBM nCode enables engineers to perform fatigue analysis during the design of wind energy facilities for optimal and safe dimensioning of all components.

Developed by HBM, nCodeDesignLifeT software contributes to the optimal design of wind power plants from the development phase and determines the probable service life of critical components. During test and production phases, HBM force, strain and torque transducers, together with a large number of electrical and optical strain gauges, ensure the quality and subsequent longevity of the components.

As recent statistics from National Grid reveal an upsurge in the UKs electricity generated by wind, from 9.5 per cent in 2014 to 11 per cent in 2015, last year was a record year for wind energy generation, with onshore and offshore wind farms supplying their largest ever amounts of clean electricity to UK homes, factories and offices. In line with this growth, HBM offers a wide range of wind power test and measurement systems to ensure wind turbines are working to their maximum performance.

For further information visit the HBM website at www.hbm.com.