Wind growth drives demand for inspection

Recent months have seen a surge in demand for hired turbine inspection instruments as manufacturers and energy producers seek to ensure optimal safety and efficiency, prevent downtime and maximise operational reliability. Test instruments are being used to check the internal and external condition of the towers and the turbine blades, and video borescopes are being used to inspect gearboxes. Ashtead Technology’s Tristan Craig-Tyler says: “The growth in this business is driven partly by the expansion of the renewable energy sector, but also by a need to maximise revenue and extend operational life. Instrument rental is proving highly popular because it enables engineers to employ the latest technology while avoiding capital costs.” Borescopes (industrial endoscopes) are commonly employed for internal examinations because they enable inspection without the cost and delay of dismantling. Tristan says “This technology has advanced considerably recently; video borescopes are now available which are very light and easy to use, but provide extremely high quality images.” One of the latest additions to Ashtead Technology’s fleet of NDT rental instruments is the Olympus IPLEX UltraLite. Weighing just 700 grams, it incorporates a combined control and display unit that fits in the palm of one hand and frees the other hand to guide the probe insertion tube. Observed images can be stored on a memory card as high-quality JPEG images and MPEG-4 movies. Other popular NDT rental instruments for turbine inspections include ultrasonic flaw detectors and ultrasonic thickness testers. One of the most important advantages of regular inspections is the development of a preventative maintenance programme. Any failure of critical components can be detected early, so that repair work can be planned during periods of low wind speed or planned down time. This prevents major failure, reduces maintenance costs and minimises downtime. In addition to preventative maintenance, inspection equipment is also employed for quality control during manufacture and assembly, and pre-warranty handover inspection. For comprehensive details of Ashtead Technology’s videoprobe & borescope range of NDT equipment please click here. Alternatively, customers from across Europe can call one of their experts on +44 (0)845 270 2707.

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