The IFW Dresden has launched the SAWblade project within the IQ@IFW funding programme. SAWblade aims to develop sensors for wireless and energy‑autonomous condition monitoring of wind turbine blades. The main focus is on detecting ice on the blades, but the same technology also enables measurement of blade strain and thus determination of operating loads.
Why the Project Is Important
Safe and reliable operation of wind turbines is essential for climate‑neutral energy generation. In order to carry out predictive and condition‑based maintenance, condition‑monitoring systems are required. They constitute a key component of the circular economy. The SAWblade project makes it possible to develop a low‑cost system for monitoring the condition of turbine blades.
Technical Approach
The underlying SAW (surface acoustic wave) technology allows interrogation of energy‑autonomous sensors via a radio signal. In other words, sensors that are installed on blades either after manufacture or already during production can be powered solely by the energy of the interrogation signal. An additional power source such as a battery is not needed. The interrogation signal sent from an external read‑out unit is received by the sensor’s antenna and, using an interdigital transducer on a piezoelectric crystal, is converted into a surface acoustic wave. The measurement principle relies on the fact that changes in physical properties caused, for example, by loading the piezoelectric crystal with ice or by applying mechanical stress, alter the propagation characteristics of the SAW. When the SAW is reflected, reconverted, and sent back to the read‑out unit via the antenna, the change in physical properties can be detected, allowing an assessment of the blade’s condition.
Project Partners
The research group at IFW Dresden is closely networked with other research institutions, electronics manufacturers, and a blade‑maintenance company, providing all the expertise required to successfully develop a SAW‑based condition‑monitoring system.
Outlook
In the coming months, additional laboratory and field tests will be carried out, accompanied by measures to raise the technology readiness level. SAWblade promises a cost‑effective solution for increasing the reliability and operational safety of wind turbines, helping to achieve climate‑neutrality in a resource‑efficient manner.
Philipp Schulmeyer's Statement on Validation Funding
"The IQ@IFW validation funding is a valuable support that enables further investigations aimed at raising the technological maturity within a short time frame. In particular, IQ@IFW promotes the partnership between science and industry. The insights already obtained are secured and shared, and early steps can be taken toward future scaling of the project, fostering new collaborations and research initiatives."
Have a research idea with market potential? Learn more about IQ@IFW Validation Funding:
https://ifw-innovation.de/p/validation-program/
Note: This article was drafted using an on-premises AI system and reviewed and supplemented by the project’s researchers.
