This paper proposes new seismic-based methods for use in the wind energy industry with a focus on wind turbine condition monitoring. Fourteen Streckeisen STS-2 Broadband seismometers and two three-dimensional (3D) sonic anemometers are deployed in/near an operating wind farm to collect the data used in these proof-of-principle analyses. The interquartile mean (IQM) value of power spectral density (PSD) of the seismic components in 10 min time series is used to characterize the spectral signatures (i.e., frequencies with enhanced variance) in ground vibrations deriving from vibrations of wind turbine subassemblies. A power spectral envelope approach is taken in which the probability density function (PDF) of seismic PSD is developed using seismic data collected under normal turbine operation. These power spectral envelopes clearly show the energy distribution of wind-turbine-induced ground vibrations over a wide frequency range. Singular PSD lying outside the power spectral envelopes can be easily identified and is used herein along with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data to diagnose the associated suboptimal turbine operating conditions. Illustrative examples are given herein for periods with yaw misalignment and excess tower acceleration. It is additionally shown that there is a strong association between drivetrain acceleration and seismic spectral power in a frequency band of 2.5–12.5 Hz. The long-term goal of the research is development of seismic-based condition monitoring (SBCM) for wind turbines. The primary advantages of SBCM are that the approach is low-cost, noninvasive, and versatile (i.e., one seismic sensor monitoring multiple turbine components).
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October 2017
Research-Article
Use of Seismic Analyses for the Wind Energy Industry
Weifei Hu,
Weifei Hu
Mem. ASME
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: wh348@cornell.edu
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: wh348@cornell.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
S. C. Pryor,
S. C. Pryor
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1117,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: sp2279@cornell.edu
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1117,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: sp2279@cornell.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Frederick Letson,
Frederick Letson
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: fl368@cornell.edu
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: fl368@cornell.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
R. J. Barthelmie
R. J. Barthelmie
Sibley School of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering,
Cornell University,
Upson Hall 313,
124 Hoy Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: rb737@cornell.edu
Aerospace Engineering,
Cornell University,
Upson Hall 313,
124 Hoy Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: rb737@cornell.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Weifei Hu
Mem. ASME
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: wh348@cornell.edu
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: wh348@cornell.edu
S. C. Pryor
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1117,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: sp2279@cornell.edu
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1117,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: sp2279@cornell.edu
Frederick Letson
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: fl368@cornell.edu
Cornell University,
Bradfield Hall 1010,
306 Tower Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: fl368@cornell.edu
R. J. Barthelmie
Sibley School of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering,
Cornell University,
Upson Hall 313,
124 Hoy Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: rb737@cornell.edu
Aerospace Engineering,
Cornell University,
Upson Hall 313,
124 Hoy Road,
Ithaca, NY 14853
e-mail: rb737@cornell.edu
1Corresponding authors.
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING: INCLUDING WIND ENERGY AND BUILDING ENERGY CONSERVATION. Manuscript received March 8, 2017; final manuscript received June 21, 2017; published online July 27, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Yves Gagnon.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Oct 2017, 139(5): 051007 (8 pages)
Published Online: July 27, 2017
Article history
Received:
March 8, 2017
Revised:
June 21, 2017
Citation
Hu, W., Pryor, S. C., Letson, F., and Barthelmie, R. J. (July 27, 2017). "Use of Seismic Analyses for the Wind Energy Industry." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. October 2017; 139(5): 051007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4037218
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