Electrical signature analysis based condition monitoring and diagnostics techniques for wind turbines

Wind power has become the most important component of renewable energy with advances in technology in recent years. Reducing operations and maintenance cost effectively and detecting the fault timely for wind turbines are critical to expand wind power use. Due to difficult access and harsh environment, offshore wind turbines have more urgent need for reducing operations and maintenance costs. This paper reviews typical failure modes of wind turbines and compares condition monitoring and diagnostics techniques for wind turbines based on electrical signature analysis with conventional analysis. With less demand for sensors, electrical signature analysis techniques is the key to promote wind industry.