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Lightning Protected Monitoring System for Wind Turbine Rotor Blades

B. FRANKENSTEIN, L. SCHUBERT, E. SCHULZE, D. FISCHER, B. WEIHNACHT, R. REISKE

Abstract


Lightning strike is one of the most frequently causes of defect for wind turbine rotor blades. Because of the tremendous magnetic inductions caused by lightning conductor current use of metallic wiring for communication and power supply is quite impossible. The work describes a monitoring system based on acoustic emission and acousto ultrasonic techniques combined with acceleration measurements for rotor blades. The sensors are distributed over the surface of the rotor blade and the Backbone for data transfer and power supply is realized by optical components. Monitoring techniques and technical realization of such a sensing network as well as first results of acoustic emission and acousto ultrasonic measurements in rotor blades will be presented. Challenges and solutions of such a monitoring system like sensor application, optical wiring, data collection and signal processing for the acoustic applications will be described.

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