As the global provider of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) solutions, we understand the challenges of creating a valuable product for the long-term observation of WTG. We see SHM as a data-driven process capable of providing reliable diagnoses and assessments of structural performance and ultimately add value to your assets. The success of an SHM system relies on optimal planning and execution – from choosing the right hardware and sensors to software design, algorithm implementation and engineering support to take the right O&M decisions.

Thanks to our many years of experience in hardware design and installation, mechanical and structural engineering, data science and software design, we can cover all phases of the SHM process. With a dedicated team of experts, we offer customized foundation and tower solutions that meet all the SHM requirements of your wind park.

With the SHM.Foundation individual monitoring system, the structural behavior of your wind turbines and substations can be recorded, tracked and evaluated in compliance with the guidelines. The focus is on the detailed analysis of maximum and fatigue loads, the acting wind and wave loads, the structural condition and the resulting remaining lifetime, as well as the detection of corrosion and scouring.

Without a suitable monitoring system, damage can only be detected and monitored by regular visual inspections. These are usually complex and expensive. The monitoring of variables such as displacements, deformations, component stresses or frequencies is therefore unanimously recommended. In numerous offshore projects, however, only the monitoring of ten percent of all turbines has been established so far.

Since each wind turbine has individual characteristics and damage, we take a more comprehensive approach and recommend that all turbines in a wind farm be equipped with a system for monitoring the tower and foundation structure. In offshore wind farms, we generally equip ten percent of the turbines with the comprehensive SHM.Foundation individual system and 90 percent of the turbines with the cost-effective standard SHM.Foundation system. This combination makes it possible to switch from the previously used time-based inspections to condition-based inspection concepts.

Comprehensive monitoring is also useful for onshore wind farms. It enables operation to be optimized at all levels and thus reduces operating costs. An additional advantage is the exact statement about the total consumed lifetime. This means that the assessment of the continued operation of the plant is based on the fatigue loads that have actually occurred. In contrast to the evaluation with conventional methods, the entire potential for lifetime extension can be exploited.

Depending on the location and mode of operation of a wind turbine (WTG), the vibration stress – especially on the tower – varies greatly. The monitoring system SHM.Tower records these stresses via an integrated sensor. Due to the permanent comparison of the current RMS-values with the applicable standards – e.g. ISO 10816-21 and VDI 3834 – the condition of the turbine is always visible at first glance. Turbine settings and operating mode can be continuously and proactively optimized. The system issues warning messages if predefined threshold values are exceeded. WTGs with excessive loads are thus immediately identified and countermeasures can be initiated.

For the comprehensive functionality of SHM.Tower, a sensor is sufficient, which can be mounted either at the tower head or on the nacelle. With an early implementation of the system, the operational condition and consumed service life are precisely captured throughout all usage phases.

SHM.Tower calculates the loads that actually occur and are distributed over the tower cross-section based on the accelerations measured in the tower and thus enables a wind direction-specific statement to be made about the actual lifetime consumption. Even critical extreme conditions are directly recorded. Thus, the lifetime prognosis is no longer based on assumptions alone. The lifetime extension can be maximized and the entire yield potential can be tapped.