IKM Testing UK has demonstrated a new approach to dealing with grease build-up and contamination in turbine bearings on a wind turbine at Vattenfall’s Ormonde offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea.
The demonstration, facilitated by Vattenfall and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, tested IKM’s Grease Replenishment service that the company says can support routine turbine maintenance while improving safety and reducing costs.
According to IKM Testing, rather than continuously injecting fresh grease into a bearing to displace existing material, its system first cleans the bearing, removing hardened grease and other contaminants before introducing fresh grease. This approach is designed to remove old or hardened grease that may resist flow and otherwise remain inside the bearing, according to the company.
“The addition of this new technology to our service lines will undoubtedly enhance our clients’ experience, as well as have a real impact on safety and cost”, said Barry Summers, Regional Director at IKM Testing.
The demonstration took place at Ormonde after specific issues with grease build-up in its wind turbines had been identified, according to Hugh Riddell, Regional Partnership Manager at ORE Catapult.
Craig Fraser, O&M Execution Product Manager at Vattenfall, said: "By working with partners such as IKM Testing and ORE Catapult, we can test promising technologies in real-world conditions and help accelerate innovation across the offshore wind sector."
Ormonde is a 150 MW offshore wind farm located approximately 10 kilometres off Barrow-in-Furness in northwest England. The wind farm comprises 30 Senvion (formerly REpower) 5 MW turbines and has been generating electricity since 2012.
The wind farm was among the early UK projects to deploy 5 MW offshore wind turbines and steel jacket foundations. Its 30 turbines were installed in 2011, with commissioning completed in February 2012.
Vattenfall owns a 51 per cent stake in the wind farm and operates the project, while Swedish pension group AMF owns the remaining 49 per cent.