Finite element based lifetime predictions of wind turbine blade coatings
T.W. Hamers (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
Lars Pilgaard Mikkelsel – Mentor (Technical University of Denmark (DTU))
J. Teuwen – Mentor (TU Delft - Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies)
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Abstract
Operating turbines suffering from leading edge erosion (LEE) experience significant (up to 5%) annual energy production (AEP) loss and require expensive maintenance campaigns. Evaluation of state-of-the-art coating systems relies on rain erosion testing (RET) with no accepted method for the computational evaluation of the coatings lifetime. In this work, the computation framework for rain erosion developed in the DURALEDGE research project of DTU Wind Energy is subjected to analyses and used for the comparison of erosion performance of four novel leading-edge coating systems. Improvements for the computation workflow are proposed and implemented into the workflow. Furthermore, relevant conclusions are drawn linking the material’s visco-elastic properties to erosion performance.