Optical Strain Sensors

WindMETER System

The WindMETER Solution: Optical Wind Blade Monitoring System

The WindMETER system is a reliable monitoring solution specifically designed to monitor wind generator blades. It combines sensors and data acquisition hardware to provide real-time measurements, and is designed to integrate and upstream the customer’s system.

The solution consists of a low consumption optoelectronic interrogator, suitable for operation over an extended temperature range, and a set of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) strain and temperature sensors.

This innovative wind-blade monitoring system is characterized by its long-lasting performance, attained by a built-in standard, which allows all measured data to be auto-calibrated every 10 ms.

The WindMETER can be integrated in a wide array of applications, such as:

Pitch control;
Condition monitoring;
Load assessment;
Blade design validation;
Ice detection.

WindMETER System Specifications

Safe operation with no need for a climatized cabinet

Extended Temperature Range:

-20ºC to 60ºC

Protection rate suitable for hub environment

Robust Enclosure:

IP65 stainless steel

Adaptable to pre-installed systems

Custom Communication Protocol:

CANOpen or other, available upon request

Several monitoring applications on blades

High Strain Range:

± 5000 με

Some WindMETER projects:

WindMETER system Installation on wind generator for Individual Pitch Control

WindMETER system installation for condition monitoring on a 2MW generator

WindMETER system installation for blade load monitoring

Empower your Turbine with Optical Technologies

Optical technologies have become a powerful option for demanding environments such as ones found in multi-watt wind turbine generators. Due to its intrinsic characteristics, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor technology matches perfectly the following requirements of structural and condition monitoring of wind turbines:

Multiplexing different parameters in a single chain
Immunity to EMI/lightning and electrical isolation
Embedding capability during blade manufacture
Signal integrity

HBM FiberSensing’s optical fiber sensors and interrogators are optimized for measuring applications with high load cycles, long sensing networks, or ones that require resistance against lightning.