SKF is to install its WindCon condition monitoring system in 126 ENERTRAG wind turbines located in nine different wind farms across Germany and France. SKF claim that using WindCon, ENERTRAG, will improve the uptime of its wind turbines and optimize the schedule and efficiency of maintenance operations.
SKF Wind Con provides a complete picture of the condition of wind turbines at
any time. This enables potential problems to be detected at an early stage and
preventive maintenance to be implemented before unplanned downtime causes considerable
loss of energy production.
SKF Wind Con is installed in the machine compartment of each turbine. The system
continually collects data, automatically checking the vibration level of the
rolling bearings, gear units and drive train, and the condition of all monitoring
devices and transducers. It enables root cause analysis of a range of defects
while gearwheel damage, resonance problems and electrical problems can be studied.
A malfunction or defect is automatically transmitted to ENERTRAG’s central
monitoring system.
“This contract strengthens the SKF strategy of using its specialist knowledge
of rotating machine parts for the provision of new, intelligent services,”
says Gerhard Schneeweis of SKF.