Romain (Robotic inspection and repair of wind turbine composite blade)

Value

€488,150

Partners and collaborators

Fronttec, EDP, Alerion, Tecnalia, Aerones

Description

The “Romain” project aims to develop a robotic solution for inspection and repair of wind turbine blades (WTBs), both onshore and offshore. The inspection unit of Romain consists of lock-in shearography and thermography with laser heating, so that surface and subsurface defects within WTBs can be identified and quantified. (Current techniques including drone-based inspections are limited to surface defects only). The repair unit is able to perform various functions such as applying composite repair patch and heating and compaction curing and consolidation. A compact and efficient robotic deployment system will carry the inspection and repair units to climb along the WTBs to perform maintenance work. The whole system will be operated by engineers working on ground (for onshore wind farms) or on a vessel (for offshore wind farms), hence greatly reducing their risk exposure. The Romain technique is guided by EDP, the end-user that drives this Innovation Action. Three innovative SMEs joined force: Aerones on robotic deployment system, Front on advanced inspections and Alerion on artificial intelligence and machine learning. This is further strengthened by a University of Leeds and a RTO (Tecnalia) on composite repair. The Romain consortium will work together to deliver this project so as to contribute to the European wind energy to (1) reduce operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, (2) improve safe working conditions, (3) keep the technology lead, and (4) remain a major exporter. This will ultimately contribute to the European Commission’s commitment to a net-zero economy by 2050 in the Green Deal.

Publications and outputs

https://4spepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pc.28113

Project website

https://projectromain.org/