As the world turns to renewable energy sources, wind turbines are becoming an increasingly integral component of the global energy infrastructure. In 2022, wind energy accounted for 7.3% of global electricity generation, up from 6.6% in the previous year. While the demand for wind energy grows, so does the need for effective turbine inspection solutions.
Regular inspection and predictive maintenance of wind turbines is critical to ensuring that they operate safely and efficiently. Wind turbines are often situated in remote environments, where they are subjected to harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, high winds, and airborne contaminants. Over time, this can cause wear and tear that can give rise to a variety of issues, including corrosion, blade damage, electrical faults, and more. These faults can reduce energy production and lead to catastrophic failures if left unattended.
Rising to the Challenge of Wind Turbine Inspection
Inspecting the inner workings of a wind turbine presents significant challenges. Many of the crucial components that need regular monitoring, such as gearboxes or generator compartments, are difficult to access. As a result, costly and time-consuming disassembly is sometimes necessary to complete a satisfactory inspection. In recent years, however, video borescope technology has emerged as a game-changing tool that can make wind turbine inspections substantially easier.
The IPLEX G Lite portable video borescope can navigate through tight spaces to visualize hard-to-reach components.
Providing the ability to navigate through confined spaces and carry out remote visual assessments, ultra-portable models such as the IPLEX™ G Lite video borescope can access and visualize critical turbine components without the need for disassembly. As a result, turbine downtime can be greatly reduced, keeping revenue loss to a minimum. Further, the ability to perform remote visual inspections limits the time personnel spend in high-risk and cramped areas, enhancing overall safety.
The IPLEX G Lite video borescope probe is small enough to navigate the most complex of wind turbine parts. In the gearbox, for example, the video borescope easily fits in the gaps between the gearbox’s internal components, enabling remote inspection of the numerous gear wheels and bearings that require regular monitoring.
Let’s take a closer look at how video borescope technology is driving better wind turbine inspections with a real-world example.
Ultra-Portable Video Borescope in Action: I-care Review
Mathieu May is a customer care manager at I-care , a global leader in industrial predictive and prescriptive maintenance for the wind power industry. Day-to-day, his role involves predictive maintenance of onshore and offshore wind turbines. Completing upwards of 350 turbine inspections per year, the IPLEX G Lite video borescope has become an integral part of Mathieu’s daily operations.
Mathieu May carries out routine wind turbine inspection using an IPLEX G Lite video borescope.
“We have been using IPLEX video borescopes for wind turbine inspections since 2016. Having used several different generations of IPLEX, the technology has transformed our inspection process,” says Mathieu. “The biggest advantages that IPLEX video borescopes bring to my routine inspections are the high image quality and the brightness that allows us to detect minute faults in dark environments.”
The small profile of the IPLEX G Lite video borescope probe enables Mathieu to reach the most inaccessible turbine components: “We are working with 4- and 6-millimeter probes to access small cavities and find small defects. In addition, the system is robust and waterproof. Since we are entering areas where there are oils, lubricants, and steam, there is a risk of image blurring, but the IPLEX video borescope performs superbly in these settings.”
The advanced image quality that can be gained with IPLEX video borescopes has strengthened the inspection reporting capabilities at I-care, providing clients with a comprehensive picture of the health of mechanical systems within their wind turbines.
Mathieu explains, “As you can understand, the quality of images shown in our reports are crucial for our clients, and the ability to capture high-quality images of difficult-to-reach components leaves our clients satisfied.”
Optimized Borescope Technology in Your Hands
Recognizing the value that video borescope technology adds to wind turbine inspection and predictive maintenance, we developed the IPLEX G Lite-W model, an evolution of the IPLEX G Lite video borescope that is tailored specifically for wind turbine inspections. The optimized features include:
- A sealed, oil-clearing tip adapter to see more clearly in oily environments
- Optics designed for wind turbine gearbox inspections
- 4 mm scope to fit into tight spaces
- Bright LED guide tube
- Oil-resistant insertion tube coating for easier cleaning
Packing high-performance optics and enhanced illumination into a lightweight, 1.16 kg (2.6 lb) system, the IPLEX G Lite-W video borescope is a comprehensive solution to help make wind turbine inspections easier, faster, and safer.
Elevate Your Wind Turbine Inspection
Video borescope technology is leading the way for the inspection and predictive maintenance of wind turbines. Its ability to provide real-time, high-resolution imaging of critical components in hard-to-access areas makes video borescopes an invaluable tool for wind energy industry professionals. With the availability of portable, tailored solutions like the IPLEX G Lite-W video borescope, inspection workflows can be made even more efficient.
Explore the full capabilities of the IPLEX G Lite video borescope, and let us know if you’d like a demonstration of the latest technology for wind turbine inspection.
Related Content
I-care Review: IPLEX™ G Lite Video Borescope for Wind Turbine Inspection
Brochure: IPLEX G Lite-W Video Borescope for Wind Energy
Video: Inspect Wind Turbine Gearboxes with the IPLEX G Lite-W Video Borescope
