MINI LABORATORY APPLICATION FOR WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS
A Thesis
by
Nuno Moreira
Approved by:
__________________________________, Committee Chair
Ilhan Tuzcu
__________________________________, Second Reader
Akihiko Kumagai
____________________________
Date
ii
Student: Nuno Moreira
I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format
manual, and that this thesis is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for
the thesis.
__________________________, Graduate Coordinator ___________________
Akihiko Kumagai
Date
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract
of
MINI LABORATORY APPLICATION FOR WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS
by
Nuno Moreira
In recent years, wind power has become one of the fastest growing energy supply
industries in the world. In fact, wind turbines are considered to be fairly simple
mechanical applications powered by the energy of the wind. In order to generate adequate
amounts of energy, such systems are dependent on well-developed mechanical
components and efficiencies. Efficiencies are fundamental processes for which assists in
maximizing the output requirements for successful mechanical applications. This factor is
extremely important for applications supplying energy.
Efficiency does not always depend on the mechanical application; it does
however dependent on how well it is maintained. This type of process is usually referred
as preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance are methods that manufactures and
users establish to maintain mechanical applications. These processes aid in extending the
life of machines and its components. In the wind power industry one of the aspects of
preventive maintenance has to do with the lubrication. The concept is directly related to
the study of fluid dynamics which in physics is defined as the science that studies the
mechanics and properties of fluids. The goal of this study is to introduce new technology
that can assist in monitoring and prevent catastrophic failures in systems. The study is to
identify critical parameters that can be used to evaluate performance and transmit live
data to remote and global databases. Some of the critical parameters identified in wind
power industry as the primary causes of failures are oxidation, contamination and foam
characteristics. These are critical parameters and should be used to establish advance
methods to help develop tools to aid in the maintenance of the application. By developing
an application that can monitor these parameters, it will have a significant contribution in
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the life of the application as well as provide economical support to manufactures and
users.
_______________________, Committee Chair
Ilhan Tuzcu
_______________________
Date
v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who helped me through
my education at California State University at Sacrament. I would like to give special
thanks to my advisor Dr. Ilhan Tuzcu which was instrumental to my education success. I
appreciate all the support that was given to me through the years from the professors and
staff at the Mechanical Engineering Department. I feel proud to be part of the CSUS
Mechanical Engineering group.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. vi
List of Figures ....................................................................................................................... viii
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION .......................……………………………………………………….. 1
2. HISTORY.……………...……………………….……………………………………….. 4
3. TYPES OF TESTING ........................................................................................................ 6
Oxidation ..................................................................................................................... 6
Contaminants ............................................................................................................... 8
Viscosity .................................................................................................................... 11
4. RELIABILITY ................................................................................................................. 13
5. APPLICATION CONCEPT............................................................................................. 16
Oxidation Application Concept ............................................................................. 17
Contaminants Application Concept ...................................................................... 18
Viscosity Application Concept .............................................................................. 21
6. ECONOMICS ............................................................................................................... 23
7. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 24
Bibliography/References/Work Cited ..................................................................................... 25
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figures
Pages
1.
Current win turbine systems………………………………….……………...…3
2.
Old wind mills…………………………………………………………………4
3.
Early wind turbines………………………………………………...….………5
4.
ASTM D2272 graphical analysis for turbine oil…………………..……….….7
5.
ASTM D664 graphical analysis………………………………..………………8
6.
Picture of various wear particulates……………………………..……………10
7.
Drawing example of a viscosity method…………………………...…………11
8.
Diagram of wind turbine system components……………………...…………13
9.
Offshore wind turbine farm…………………………………………...………13
10.
In-land wind turbine farm……………………………………….…………….14
11.
Wind turbine reliability diagram……………………………..……….………15
12.
FITR instrument diagram………………………………..………….……...…16
13.
FITR scan and oxidation peak area………………………………...….……...17
14.
Ruler graphical analysis for Phenols and Amines (oxidation inhibitors)….….18
15.
Field particle count analyzer………………………………………….…….…19
16.
Diagram of particle count counter laser analyzer………………………….….20
17.
Viscometer instrument…………………………………...………..….……….22
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