Wind Turbine Asset Management and Research

TWI’s expertise in materials joining, fabrication, structural integrity, non-destructive testing and asset management is available to help the wind industry ensure safe, cost effective and efficient operations.

Owners, operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contractors involved in operating wind farms, whether located onshore or offshore, can benefit from TWI’s expertise. TWI has worked to solve industry’s problems for the last 75 years. Our deep understanding of welding and joining processes can help the rapidly developing wind industry ensure safe operations and avoid catastrophic failures. If a failure does occur, we can carry out a failure investigation, and our understanding of materials performance can help to determine what went wrong.

Consultancy on design of new structures and qualification testing at TWI can provide confidence that new structures have the required static or fatigue strength. Additional insights are gained when numerical modelling is coupled with full scale or small scale testing to understand the performance of structures, components and equipment, ranging from welded nodal joints to high voltage cables.

Our multidisciplinary teams help Members to overcome current and future challenges, with services that address all parts of a wind turbine’s structure. Some examples of the types of projects we carry out include:

Fatigue testing of small-scale or full-scale components (welds, bolted joints, mooring chains, armour wires, composite fixtures, etc)
Risk-based optimisation of inspections to enable preventative maintenance
Failure investigations
Development of inspection procedures
Performing inspections of wind turbine hubs, blades and welds in structures
Consultancy for optimising welding procedures and processes for tower and foundations
Electron beam welding to speed up fabrication on thick sections
Novel joining techniques, such as friction welding, for high voltage cables
Structural integrity assessments to determine whether welds containing fabrication flaws or cracks found in service are fit for purpose or if repair is required
Advice on ageing and life extension of structures approaching or past their design life
Expertise in corrosion performance and application of corrosion resistant coatings
Condition monitoring of structures such as gearboxes
Adhesive bonding of composites used in turbine blades

contactus@twi.co.uk

Asset Integrity Management Services

TWI works with companies to provide risk-based approaches and toolsets to help optimise the asset integrity management process.

Bespoke Mechanical Testing Services

TWI is a world leader in developing tailor-made mechanical testing designs and methodologies. Our expertise enables us to support consultancy and research projects for our Members.

Coating and Surface Engineering

TWI possesses the capability, experience and facilities to allow the most appropriate coating methods and materials to be selected and validated from the wide range of options available.

Composites Joining

TWI has been carrying out research and development into composite materials for over 25 years.

Condition and Structural Health Monitoring

At TWI, we help companies and organisations manage the life of their structures to facilitate safe and efficient operation.

Consultancy on Fatigue Design and Assessment

TWI has been at the leading edge of research into the implications fatigue has for design for more than half a century, and continues to invest in this area today.

Consultancy on Fatigue Design and Assessment

TWI has been at the leading edge of research into the implications fatigue has for design for more than half a century, and continues to invest in this area today.

Failure Investigation

Whatever the nature of the failure, TWI has the capability and the experience to respond quickly and carry out a conclusive investigation into what went wrong.

Manufacturing and Production Support

TWI can help you identify areas for improvement, and put measures in place to you can increase both quality and output.

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Inspection Services

Our world leading services in non-destructive testing ensures your equipment, plant assets and products remain operational, reliable and safe.

Out of Chamber Electron Beam Welding

TWI is active in out-of-chamber developments to allow welding of very large assemblies in a cost effective manner.

Growing demand for global wind energy power generation, from the UK and the United States to China, is driving an increase in the number of wind turbines installed at both onshore and offshore locations.

To improve generating capacity, wind turbine manufacturers and those involved in wind farm operation have been researching larger and more efficient machines, lighter structures and optimised wind power equipment manufacturing techniques. This has an impact through the wind market supply chain, from wind turbine suppliers and owners of wind assets, to inspection and asset management services and manufacturers of spare parts for the wind industries.

At TWI, we use our expertise and experience within the wind power industry to provide support for the UK department of energy's requirements to cost effectively deliver manufacturing, fabrication and asset management for the renewable energy sector.

For more information please email:

contactus@twi.co.uk