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  • https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2024-21-ac1Copy DOI Icon

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  • May 24, 2024
  • Tahir Malik
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Abstract

This study investigates how blade aerodynamic modifications, including Leading Edge Roughness (LER), influence offshore wind turbine performance over their operational lifespan. Developing a novel methodology, this research analyses data from twelve multi-megawatt turbines over a twelve-year period, focusing on the intricate relationship between blade erosion, blade enhancements, operations and maintenance events, control PLC parameter updates, and their cumulative impact on turbine efficiency. The analysis hinges on the integration of SCADA data, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) records, and air density corrections. A key contribution is the development of a Turbine Performance Integral (TPI) method, which leverages generator speed and power output data to track performance trajectories. Seasonal-Trend decomposition using Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing (STL) further isolates long-term trends and seasonal variations in performance. Overcoming data availability and quality limitations, the study reveals significant findings concerning software updates impacts on turbine control strategies, the variable effects of blade repairs and enhancements and the complex interaction between O&M events and performance. This study's strength lies in its methodical approach and statistical rigour, offering a path forward in the quest for optimised wind turbine efficiency and advancing renewable energy. The detrimental effect of Leading Edge Roughness (LER) or Leading Edge Erosion (LEE) on aerofoil characteristics has been investigated through wind tunnel experiments and various studies on the impact of erosion and roughness on wind turbine annual energy production (AEP) Mishnaevsky Jr et al. (2021). Predictions suggest that erosion related annual energy losses of up to 7% may occur described in various publications Han et al. (2018) Maniaci et al. (2016) Bak et al. (2020) Bak (2022). However, a key challenge remains in identifying and validating these computed energy losses when analysing SCADA data from operational wind turbines Ding et al. (2022) . This challenge is manifested by a continued absence of an established correlation between blade erosion and turbine performance underscoring a lack of deeper understanding of the underlying reasons.

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