Solution provider TÜV NORD is piloting a drones-based service for inspecting the concrete towers of wind turbines.
The aim is to validate the potential of the service in partnership with a so far unnamed European wind turbine manufacturer.
The concrete sections of concrete-steel hybrid towers can show abnormalities such as cracks as they age and before end of warranty.
In the pilot the entire concrete tower is being photographed by the drone, with the images later evaluated by TÜV NORD experts.
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In the medium term, an automated image recognition system is due to be introduced, which will pre-sort images with conspicuous features on the basis of artificial intelligence so that the experts can view and evaluate the images in a more targeted manner.
“Initially small cracks and spalling can later lead to critical damage in the concrete structure. That is why it is important to assess any anomalies on the tower before the end of the warranty period so that they can be repaired,” comments wind energy expert Michael Lange, who is responsible for remote inspections for renewable energies at TÜV NORD.
Using drones for the inspection simplifies the image capture and eliminates the need for physical inspection by personnel.
The company also is working on a system that will enable the drone to fly autonomously up the tower, so that jobs can be completed in less time.
Using the drone-based inspection, 34 of the manufacturer’s wind turbines have already been assessed this year and the results validated. Now, the procedure is being extended to additional sites and talks are underway with other manufacturers and wind farm operators.
