A research project in Finland is using artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing to develop wind turbine blade materials highly resistant to erosion.
In the ‘antiAGE’ project, Finnish applied research organisation VTT modelled the rates of erosion of materials used in blades, due to effects of weather.
VTT principal scientist Anssi Laukkanen said: “Blade material erodes due to the effects of rain, hailstones and sand dust, significantly reducing the service life of wind turbines."
Accelerated replacement of turbines becomes expensive. Up to 2–4% of the value of all wind-generated power is lost as a result of this problem.
VTT has developed a durable material that hardens when exposed to mechanical stress, through a design process using virtual testing and machine learning.
AI was used in the project to unpick complex cause-and-effect relationships between different weather conditions and particulates, such as dust, on blade erosion, simulating solutions and presenting infinite numbers of alternatives best suited to a turbine’s operational requirements.
3D printing, or additive manufacturing, allows the production of new formulations of composite material with specific features and functions in any shape at reasonable cost.
“When we published the news about our solution, wind turbine manufacturers became immediately interested in it. We are now negotiating details with commercial operators,” Laukkanen said.
VTT is also applying for additional funding for the project, as other segments of the wind industry could also potentially benefit from optimised materials.
Laukkanen said: “It is a classic problem within the wind industry, which can add billions of euros of costs."
As wind turbine sizes increase and wind farms are placed out on the sea in increasingly demanding conditions, the problem will become more serious, he said.
Source:renews
