Moventas introduces wind turbine management system

Moventas of Finland, formerly Metso Drives, is launching a wind turbine condition management system.

The company wants to raise the reliability of the mechanical power transmission systems which are at the heart of wind turbine designs, and to help owners of the equipment minimize maintenance costs.

Observing the performance and condition of key components is vital to ensure that the reliability of wind turbines can be kept high, the company says. Turbines are often located offshore or in remote locations so minimizing unplanned maintenance is important.

“With the continued growth in the use of wind power, we wanted to create a system that not only monitors the turbine’s operation, but provides the operator with early warning of potential risk factors before actual damage is done,” said Jyrki Virtanen, Senior Vice President of Moventas.

The company's condition management system focuses on the mechanical power transmission equipment, mainly the gearbox and associated components. The system monitors and senses a range of parameters that show how well the gearbox is operating and changes which may indicate potential failures.

Key measurement parameters include oil quality, vibration, load and temperature.

Information about the status of individual wind turbine gearboxes can be accessed remotely via PCs using the Internet or other telecommunications links. Each condition management system including the data gathered, is tailored to the specific requirements of the wind turbine operator.

The condition management system can be integrated into new turbine designs or fitted to machines already in operation, the company said. Moventas also offers integration services.

Moventas is a major manufacturer of wind turbine gears. In 2006, the company’s net sales were €207 million, a growth of 25% compared to the previous year. The company has close to 1,000 employees in Finland, Germany, Sweden, Canada, the USA and Singapore.

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