Deutsche Windguard: Portfolio Expansion To Include Inspections By Drone - Accreditation For Measurements By Nacelle Lidar
Varel, Germany - Just in time for Windenergy in Hamburg, Deutsche Windguard announces an expansion of its range of inspection services. After almost a decade of development work as well as extensive involvement in shaping the relevant standards, Windguard Consulting GmbH has reached an important milestone with the accreditation for measurements by nacelle lidar.
Drone-based inspection and lightning protection measurement with technology from Top Seven
In addition to drone-based visual inspection using a high-performance zoom camera, the inspection body Deutsche Windguard Inspection now also offers its contactless lightning protection measurements. These are performed with the innovative technology from TOPseven GmbH & Co. KG from Starnberg, Germany.
The procedure, which has been validated by TÜV SÜD, complies with the technical guideline of the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) for testing lightning protection systems and is recognised by Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG.
After instrucktion by TOP Seven, extensive training and the first inspection assignments, Deutsche WindGuard’s inspection team is now familiar with the handling of the drone and measurement technology. The control software, which is based on artificial intelligence, first calculates the exact flight route on which the drone then flies autonomously along the WTG to conduct the necessary measurements.
Deutsche Windguard offers two alternative procedures for visual inspection and evaluation: After the high-resolution images have been processed by TOP Seven, the autonomous flight provides complete 3D external views of all inspected wind turbine components. With the more time-saving manual flight, the Deutsche Windguard inspectors can react flexibly and directly on site and take a closer look at any damage they may have discovered..
"Thanks to the simple and quick conversion of the drone, we can offer the lightning protection measurement and visual inspection in just one appointment. In any case, drone deployment saves a considerable amount of time compared to the much more complex and physically strenuous rope access inspection. Particularly regarding the new, tall onshore turbines, with the drone we are ideally equipped for the future," says Jan Wallasch, Managing Director of Deutsche Windguard Inspection.
Deutsche Windguard accredited for nacelle based lidar measurements
Deutsche Windguard Consulting GmbH is one of the first companies to be accredited according to the new IEC 61400-50-3 for the measurement of wind turbine power curves using nacelle-based lidar. Deutsche Windguard also played a key role in the development of IEC 61400-50-3 under leadership of Denmark's Technical University (DTU), which was published in January 2022. The new standard describes procedures and methods to ensure that that wind measurements with LiDARs mounted on wind turbine nacelles are carried out consistently.
Compared to the traditional measurement method for power curves with measuring mast and cup anemometer, the laser-based lidar method involves considerably less effort. Offshore, the nacelle-based lidar measurement is practically the only established method of evaluating power curves.
For Deutsche WindGuard, the new accreditation means a future-oriented enhancement of its accredited services portfolio, which continues to comprise power curve measurements via met mast and ground-based LiDAR as well as the calibration of ground-based and nacelle-based LiDAR devices.
Source: IWR Online, 26 Sep 2022
