LATODA

We are looking forward to presenting at #CWD2025 & #DSEC2025 in Aachen, Germany! The talk of our CTO, Dr. Lars Osterbrink will be about "Framework for AI-Driven Image Analysis Systems for Gearbox endoscopy inspections". It will outline the pathway from A to Z of the development of an AI system do drive down cost and to increase quality and consistency in gearbox assessments. This will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn more about the latest developments in drive technology, systems engineering, and wind power drives. I look forward to connecting with fellow professionals and sharing knowledge. Find the full program here: https://lnkd.in/eSbJGqjE LATODA, Center for Systems Engineering, Center for Wind Power Drives, RWTH Aachen University , CWD DSEC, FVA | Forschungsvereinigung Antriebstechnik e.V., FVA GmbH #ArtificialIntelligence #Windenergy #optimization #automation

On-going progress – Advanced scientific research and operational realism met once again during the 6th International Symposium on Leading Edge Erosion and Protection of Wind Turbine Blades at DTU - Technical University of Denmark in Roskilde. About hundred representatives from Japan, USA, India, China, Brazil, as well as the major wind nations in Europe dived into the complexities of rain drop size, kinetic power impact and aerodynamic turbulences. There is no doubt that a healthy leading edge of rotor blades is critical for aerodynamic performance. Several factors can disrupt the airflow leading to turbulence and efficiency losses. Most importantly, erosion caused by rain, sand, hail, and dust roughens the surface, creating turbulence and reducing lift. Furthermore, accumulation of dust, insects, salt, or ice can alter the aerodynamic profile, increasing drag and reducing efficiency. If there are surface irregularities, misalignment, or material inconsistencies, the smooth flow of air will be disrupted. Structural wear, cracks, or delamination will add air resistance. In cold climates, ice accumulation alters blade aerodynamics significantly, causing imbalance and increasing loads on the turbine. Poorly executed repairs or aerodynamic modifications (e.g., vortex generators or de-icing systems) introduce unintended airflow disturbances. It goes without saying, that these aerodynamic disturbances contribute to unnecessary AEP loss. Further scientific research, regular comprehensive inspections, passive thermography with AI-based monitoring, and proactive maintenance is required to improve significantly rotor blade efficiency and extend turbine lifespan.

What are the major challenges to deal with rain erosion of wind turbine blades? What will be the impact of climate change on operational issues of wind turbines? Will higher tip speeds of novel wind turbines increase blade erosion? What role will AI play to deliver actionable assessments of erosion damages on wind turbines accross large turbine fleets? What are the implications of aerodynamic disturbances caused by erosion on the annual energy production? Can innovative, self-healing materials and repair methods ease the costs of maintaining efficient wind parks? How to identify damage and damage patterns at the earliest possible stage to forecast damages and damage growth? What data and assessment methods could provide potential solutions? The 6th International Symposium on Leading Edge Erosion and Protection of Wind Turbine Blades at DTU - Technical University of Denmark, provide (some) answers. Thank you, Morten Jeppesen, Leon Mishnaevsky Jr., Christian Bak, + team to organize this valuable event.

Who cares about rain erosion at rotor blades of wind turbines?  Erosion of the leading edge is a critical issue which increases AEP loss (annual energy production) and impacts the overall lifetime of blades. Operators of wind farms, manufacturers of turbines and blades and service providers as well as researchers are keen to understand more about the impact of rain erosion in rotor performance, challenges of aerodynamic modelling as well as blade design strategies. All these topics are covered during the 6th International Symposium on Leading Edge Erosion and Protection of Wind Turbine Blades at DTU, University of Roskilde, Denmark.

#Roskilde at its best – the Danish town is well-known for one of the largest and oldest music festivals in Europe. For meteorologists, scientists, and rain drop experts in the wind energy, Roskilde’s university DTU is the place to be. For the next three days, top scientists from all over the world attend the 6th International Symposium on Leading Edge Erosion and Protection of Wind Turbine Blades. This year’s agenda gives a comprehensive overview of the current research activities on leading edge erosion including material & component design, new manufacturing, advanced testing, innovative sensors, damage modelling, failure mode analysis, life time prediction assessment, reliability analysis, reuse & recycling of blade materials, and the impact of artificial intelligence. Given the key trends in the industry such as large scale developments, digitalization and sustainability, AI contributes to keep costs in place and to decrease erosion damage related Annual Energy Production Losses. After all, our Dr. Lars Osterbrink will explain the beneficial effects of AI in analyzing, categorizing and monitoring leading edge rain erosion of rotor blades. 😊 #leadingedgeerosion, #dtu, #windturbineblades

If wind turbines could choose they would prefer neither snow, ice, nor rain on their blades: Rain, snow and ice can have negative impacts on rotor blades, but their effects differ due to their physical properties and how they interact with the surface of the blades. Snowflakes are usually softer than raindrops for example. Raindrops cause erosion damages on the leading edge of rotor blades. If not monitored and repaired, damages grow over time and reduce the aerodynamic performance, and increase the risk for severe structural blade damages. The severity of any damage depends on various factors, such as wind speed, drop size, turbine tip speed, as well as the material properties of the blades. In addition, icing on blades leads to vibrations, which can cause wear and tear on both the rotor blades and the turbine’s mechanical components. These effects lead to a reduced power output: Even a thin layer of ice can significantly reduce the aerodynamic efficiency of the blades, further lowering the power output of the turbine. What concerns us at LATODA is who to measure the loss of power generation. We have developed an algorithm which calculates the AEP loss for each turbine and even wind parks. If you like to hear more about our application join us at the 6th International Symposium on Leading Edge Erosion and Protection of Wind Turbine Blades. The conference will take place on 4-6 February 2025 at DTU Wind and Energy Systems, Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark. See you there.

Precision #erosion damage assessments on #rotorblades are still a black box for many. However, some of their secrets are revealed by on-going research. The Düsseldorf AMI Wind Turbine Blades Europe 2024 conference highlighted the latest trends in #datamining, #thermography and #AI. Vast amounts of visual images of blade inspections have to be analysed in order to provide reliable conclusions of what to do, when and to which extent for maximized energy production. Intriguing evidence of thermography has opened the door for profound progress in quality assurance in blade production. The scope of inspection results by combining a visual and thermographic approach will trigger further improvements in our knowledge. A major step into managing blades is AI. Without AI any attempts by operators, inspection companies and certification bodies trying to advancing inspection, maintenance, and operational efficiency of wind turbines will remain inadequate. Today’s AI is far more reliable and consistent than visual analysis conducted by human beings. The black box is getting smaller. #windenergy #artificialintelligence #rainerosion #rotorblades

LATODA’s reasoning to attend the AMI Wind Turbine Blades Europe 2024 conference in Düsseldorf, scheduled from December 10 to 12 is straight forward: AI is playing an increasingly pivotal role in advancing the inspection, maintenance, and operational efficiency of wind turbines. In-depth analytics is helping operators forecasting blade failures, AEP losses and optimize maintenance schedules, significantly reducing downtime. Our proven machine learning models analyse both historical and real-time data to enhance turbine performance. CTO Dr. Lars Osterbrink will talk about our latest AI based analysis tool for precise blade erosion evaluation and its economic consequences on operational output. AI is transforming blade assessments by providing detailed, consistent data sets which reveal new insights. Join us on Thursday, Dec. 12, 11:00 o'clock, session 5: "Reliable and Cost-Effective Solutions for Leading Edge Protection”.

See aerodynamic effects of leading edge erosion on wind turbine blades: Check out our AI enhanced KI-Visir dataset:

Attend our presentation about AI driven diagnostics of leading edge erosion damages and the effectiveness of leading edge protection systems at the AMI conference in Düsseldorf, Dec. 12, 11:00 o'clock, 2024, at session 5: "Reliable and Cost-Effective Solutions for Leading Edge Protection.