1. Department of Electrical Engineering
Wind Turbine Blade Cleaning Autonomous System
Department of Electrical Engineering
Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management, Ahmedabad
December 2016

2. Outline Introduction Automated Wind Turbine Cleaning System
Analysis
Automated Wind Turbine Cleaning System
Base Movement
The Lifting Arm Operation
The Operation of Guide Rail
The Operation of the Cleaning Robot
Economics Consideration in Proposed Design
Conclusion

3. Figure 1 Double stall resulting in reduced power extraction
Introduction
The Power curve (1 MW turbine)-affected by double stall (blue) in relation with the manufacturer's power curve (red) at different wind speeds:* *
Figure 1 Double stall resulting in reduced power extraction
*Dust Effect on the Performance of Wind Turbine Airfoils, Nianxin Ren1,*, Jinping Ou1,2 accepted March 3rd, 2009.

4. Analysis Affection of Different roughness on the Wind turbine Blades
Smooth Blade (No roughness)
Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time
Uniform pressure difference across the wind turbine and there exists minimal turbulence and more flow attachment on the blades.
Figure 2 Results of Smooth blade

5. Even roughness (1 mm) on blades Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time
Analysis contd.
Even roughness (1 mm) on blades
Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time
Non-uniform difference in pressure, more turbulence and lesser attachment of flow to the turbine’s blades as compared to the smooth blade condition
Figure 3 Results of even roughness of blades

6. Uneven roughness on blades Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time
Analysis contd.
Uneven roughness on blades
Relation B/W Pressure Vs. Time
1 mm on Two Blades and 1.5 mm on One Blade.
Non-uniform difference in pressure, more turbulence and quite lesser attachment of flow to the turbine’s blades as compared to the even roughness on blade condition.
Figure 4 Results of Uneven roughness of blades

7. Figure 5 Different type of cleaning methods of Wind Turbine Blades.* *
*Maintenance robot for wind power blade cleaning, Minseok Jeon 1, Byunggon Kim 1, Sora Park 1, and Daehie Hong 2
Figure 5 Different type of cleaning methods of Wind Turbine Blades.

8. Figure 6 Automated Blade Cleaning System
Automatic Wind turbine blade Cleaning System
Patent Filling Date: 09/12/2016
Patent Filling Application no:
Title: Robotic Device and Method for Automated Cleaning of Wind Turbine Blades
Figure 6 Automated Blade Cleaning System

9. Figure 7 Movement of the Base along with the robots.
Flow Chart of Base movement
Figure 7 Movement of the Base along with the robots.

10. Figure 8 Methodology of Operation of the Guide rail.
Flow chart of Operation of the Guide rail
Figure 8 Methodology of Operation of the Guide rail.

11. Figure 9 Lifting arm for placing the robots on the blades.
Flow chart of Operation of Lifting Arm
Figure 9 Lifting arm for placing the robots on the blades.

12. Operation of The Cleaning Robot
The Cleaning Robot, consists of various sensors, suspension wheels, guide-wheels, brush and ultra-light weight body.
Figure 10 The Blade Cleaning Robot

13. Figure 11 Description of Motion of the Cleaning Robot.
Flow Chart of Operation of Cleaning Robot
Figure 11 Description of Motion of the Cleaning Robot.

14. Economic Consideration in Proposed Design
Table 1: Comparison on Existing and Proposed Solutions
Specification
Manual
Semi-automatic
Proposed Soltuion
Cleaning time
(per turbine)
4 x 3 hrs
2.5 x 3 hrs
1/2 - 3/4 hrs
Labour Intensive
High
Moderate
Low or None
Water Consumption
Operational Condition
Stopped
Running
Safety
Unsafe for blade and Labours
Safe
Economics viability
Uneconomical
Economical
Loss of Power generation
3600 kW (300 kW-h*4 )
2250 kW (300 kW-h*2.5)
Power required for robot

15. Relevant Patent Filed From IITRAM

16. Conclusion Power loss due to dust accumulation (Serious concern).
In Solution, The proposed automated system-most efficient and Economical.
This system nullifies additional loss due to existing solutions.
In Future, to perform running cost evolution for this proposed solution.
Right now I don’t have that lifting arm design so I am not attaching it with this. Ravi have that design.