Reliability Analysis of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

Iqbal, Tariq and Khan, Muhammad Mohsin K. and Khan, Faisal (2004) Reliability Analysis of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine. In: 14th Annual Newfoundland Electrical and Computer Engineering Conference (NECEC), October, 2004, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Abstract

Wind is one of the cheapest and cleanest sources of energy. However, large and frequent fluctuations in wind intensity and directions cause serious problems in harvesting this energy. Wind turbines are subjected to many limiting conditions, which lead to their failure or degraded performance. Therefore, reliability is a very important parameter that governs the overall performance of wind energy system. This paper describes a methodology for the reliability and availability analysis of a horizontal axis wind turbine. The discussed methodology is used to conduct reliability and availability analysis of AOC15/50 wind turbine, which is widely used in Atlantic Canada and USA. The methodology comprises of four steps. First step involves assessment of failure modes using Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) approach. Subsequently interrelationship among different components is deduced and represented using event tree analysis technique. Later based on operational characteristics, environmental condition (load), and failure characteristics reliability of each individual component is computed. Finally, Knowing the interrelationship and reliability of each components, reliability of complete system is assessed using fault tree analysis. Having maintainability characteristics known this procedure is repeated to calculate availability. Paper also includes discussion on 3 state Markov analyses for wind turbine system. It helps modeling degrading and total failure scenarios leading to better estimation of overall availability of the system round the year or during lifetime of system.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/14712
Item ID: 14712
Keywords: Wind turbines, renewable energy, reliability analysis, failure analysis, reliability engineering
Department(s): Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of
Date: 12 October 2004
Date Type: Completion
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