CC BY
6УДК 621.22
Mammadov N.S.
Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (Baku, Azerbaijan)
SAFETY IN THE OPERATION OF WIND TURBINES: ENSURING RELIABILITY AND PROTECTION
Аннотация: wind power is an important source of renewable energy, but successful operation of wind turbines requires strict adherence to safety measures. This article examines the safety issues associated with the operation of wind power plants. Three main types of wind turbine safety are considered: fire safety, electrical safety and mechanical safety. The article presents a wind turbine fire suppression system. This article also emphasizes the importance of preparing for emergencies and being prepared to respond effectively. Strict adherence to safety measures is essential to ensure reliable operation of equipment and protection of personnel, as well as the continued development of wind power as a clean energy source.
Ключевые слова: renewable energy, wind turbine, safety precautions, reliability, sustainability, wind speed.
When constructing both small and large wind turbines, safety is a priority issue. This includes ensuring fire safety, electrical safety and mechanical stability of the wind turbine. Let's look at each aspect in more detail.
Fire safety. Although wind turbine fires are rare, their consequences can be catastrophic, resulting in severe equipment damage, power outages and significant property losses. The causes of fires in wind turbines can be various factors, such as a short circuit in the generator windings, changes in wind speed and rotor speed, lightning strikes, failure of protective mechanisms, technical failures or malfunctions in the generators. As a result of fires, lubricants, oils, paper insulation of generator windings and insulation of wires at the generator output ignite. All these flammable materials are located in the generator at a considerable height, usually over 20-30 meters. Fighting fires at this height poses a major challenge due to the limitations of
the water jet, which often does not reach the top of the unit, making the extinguishing process difficult. Lightning damage does not always cause fires, sometimes it damages the blades or disrupts the generator, which can cause a voltage surge at the generator output. It takes 2 to 9 months to replace or repair one wind turbine, which means a loss of electricity for consumers. The frequency of lightning strikes depends on the location, size and geographical features of the wind turbine. To protect against lightning strikes, it is necessary to ground all main conductive parts, including the nacelle and the generator housing. Each wind turbine must be equipped with fire extinguishing pumps, providing sufficient power to ensure that the water jet reaches the tips of the wind turbine blades. It is also recommended to install fire escapes inside the tower to provide access to firefighters and develop an automatic fire extinguishing system using various types of fire extinguishers, which will ensure prompt fire extinguishing [1-5].
The human factor plays a significant role in the occurrence of fires in wind turbines. It is most often associated with insufficient care and incorrect actions of operating personnel during preventive maintenance and inspections. When inspecting wind turbines, personnel should pay attention to oil spills inside the unit, the casing of cables made of plastic, rubber, the condition of the bearings, the tightness of the shaft rotation, and check the mechanisms for the presence of sparking or flammable material. The use of modern telecommunication systems that can monitor the condition of a wind turbine and transmit information to the control center can significantly reduce the risk of fires due to human factors or equipment malfunctions. These systems provide continuous monitoring and warning of any potential problems, which helps to quickly respond to them and prevent possible accidents (figure 1).
Such systems typically monitor parameters such as oil and water temperatures, lack of gas at critical locations, vibration levels, changes in noise levels and wind turbine operating conditions. It is clear that many wind turbine manufacturers supply their products abroad, where it is necessary to call specialized specialists for repairs and maintenance. However, training of operating personnel plays a key role in ensuring the fire safety of wind turbines [6-9].
Figure 1. Wind turbine fire suppression system.
Without knowledge of safety rules and operating features of the installation, personnel are unable to ensure the safe operation of the wind turbine. Therefore, before putting a wind turbine into operation, it is necessary to ensure that personnel are thoroughly familiarized with the technical documentation and trained in fire safety rules.
Electrical safety. In the operation of high-power wind power plants, it is important to consider the possibility of current leakage from the generator into the housing. This problem often occurs when the insulation of the carrier cables or generator windings is damaged or damaged. Leakage current poses a serious threat to the safety of personnel, especially during inspection or maintenance of wind turbines, where employees may accidentally become energized. To prevent such situations, a number of safety measures must be taken. One important step is to install residual current devices or specialized residual current circuit breakers that can detect even small leakage currents and immediately interrupt the power supply if such signals are
detected. This provides an additional level of protection for personnel working at wind farms. In addition, various types of sensors can be used to monitor leakage currents and generator insulation parameters. These sensors can warn of potential insulation problems before they occur, allowing rapid action to be taken to prevent emergencies and ensure personnel safety. Thus, the introduction of protective mechanisms and monitoring systems is a necessary step to ensure electrical safety during the operation of high-power wind power plants. This helps prevent potential accidents and protect personnel from potential hazards associated with generator leakage [10-13].
Mechanical safety and stability. Ensuring mechanical safety and stability is one of the key requirements when installing wind turbines. Basic measures to ensure mechanical stability include:
1) Engineering solutions: The use of engineering solutions, such as strengthening towers and blades, designing stable foundations and using adaptive control systems, can improve the mechanical stability of wind turbines.
2) Condition Monitoring: Regular monitoring of the condition of wind turbine equipment and infrastructure allows early warning signs of potential problems to be identified and appropriate precautions taken.
3) Strict standards and regulations: Compliance with strict standards and regulations for the design, construction and operation of wind turbines helps ensure their mechanical stability under various conditions.
During the installation process, it is necessary to carefully determine the average, maximum and minimum wind speeds so that the wind turbine does not fall, vibrate or tilt in strong winds during the entire period of operation. When installing a wind turbine in residential areas, it is necessary to take into account the distance from a residential building or object, the height and radius of the wind turbine circle. One of the main criteria for stability is that the maximum wind force acting on the wind turbine should be less significant than the stability force of the wind turbine. This ensures stable operation and prevents possible negative consequences in case of strong wind conditions [14-17].
Conclusion. Ensuring the safe operation of wind power plants plays a critical role in ensuring their reliable operation and protection of both personnel and the environment. The implementation of fire safety, electrical safety and mechanical stability measures is an integral part of the design, installation and operation of wind turbines. An effective monitoring and control system, personnel training, as well as compliance with relevant standards and regulations are the main factors ensuring a high level of safety and reliability in the operation of wind power plants. Only if all these aspects are observed can the efficient and safe operation of wind turbines be ensured, which contributes to the development of alternative energy and the creation of a sustainable energy infrastructure for future generations.
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