What causes a wind turbine oil leak?

This is highlighted by how gearboxes are one of the leading sources of wind turbine failure. Other areas that cause oil leakages include deteriorating seal rings, blocked oil filters, and if oil pressure is too high, pipe ruptures can occur.

How do you know if a wind turbine is leaking oil?

Spotting the start of an oil leak is the key clue to further damage. Looking at existing oil leak sensors for contexts outside of wind turbines, these still are very manual processes that need in-person access to a turbine nacelle. These include oil leak paints, and acoustic and thermal imaging.

What happens if a turbine leaks oil?

As soon as turbines start to leak oil, this is an immediate trigger to much more serious issues. When oil levels in gearboxes drop below a certain level, this can jam gears, causing cracks that in the worst-case scenario can destroy a whole turbine.

What happens if oil leaks happen?

If oil leaks happen, they can cause a lot of environmental damage. Oil can contaminate farmlands and forests, and becomes particularly problematic when it spreads into groundwater or worse into the sea from offshore turbines.

What happens if you pit a turbine?

Dust will mix into tight spaces (like bearings) and acts as an abrasive, wearing away critical components via micropitting. Turbines have oil filtering or servicing to make sure there is minimal disruption but in some cases, pitting can gradually lead to oil leaks and catastrophic failures.

Do wind turbines need oil level monitoring?

Oil level monitoring is also common within wind turbines where sumps or trays around critical components can detect the amount of oil leaked. However, these level monitoring systems may not be sensitive enough to notice the first trickles of oil. Spotting the start of an oil leak is the key clue to further damage.