HBK Services for Monitoring of Wind Turbine Foundations

Geotechnical uncertainties and harsh environmental conditions make measurement of offshore installations and especially wind energy foundations a challenging task. Monitoring through continuous and reliable measurement and data analysis is a cost-effective solution to validate structural designs, aid operation and maintenance (O&M) decisions, and best support your energy assets over lifetime.

Here is how HBK can help:

When measuring strain in a marine environment, particularly beneath the mud line, and in piled foundations, particular care is needed to give strain measurement technology the best possible chance to survive.

HBK project engineers have proven experience in the offshore wind industry. They help in the design, installation, and commissioning of the complete measurement system in such harsh environments – from sensor to resultant data

HBK offers tactile, robust and accurate sensing solutions – electrical and optical sensor technologies measuring physical quantities. These large offerings and expertise ensure reliable and complete measurement systems not only for short-term design validation work and load monitoring campaigns but also for long-term monitoring of structural health of offshore foundations, from the foot of the foundation to the tip of the blades.

HBK’s optical Fiber Bragg grating sensors are becoming increasingly trusted for these applications. With reduced installation costs, long-term stability and resistance to water and salt, optical sensors best fit the demands of harsh offshore wind turbine foundation monitoring. This, combined with the optical sensors inherent resistance to lightning strikes, makes the perfect fit for tower and blade monitoring. Low weight ensures the best chance of surviving piling, and utilising sensors in arrays minimises complexity.

HBK engineering services help you to design the optimum measurement chain covering critical measurement spots.

The performance of a measurement system, for example the quality of the measurement of a strain gauge, is hugely influenced by the quality of the installation – surface preparation, bonded or welded, measurement spot protection from salt water, temperature variations and other influences, and many more aspects are key to long-term reliable data.

HBK offers an installation service as well as regular training courses on strain gauge installation. Our project engineers have many years’ experience in performing the highest-quality installation possible for foundations destined for the sea.

From advice on measurement spots, soldering electrical cables and splicing optical fibers, to setting up the measurement and data acquisition (DAQ) and its software – pulling HBK into your project will ensure that projects are delivered quickly and competently – from sensor to result.