Avoid the impact of uncontrolled humidity

Offshore wind turbines are an important source of energy in many places and hence they have to be reliable as we all know the revenues depend upon the reliability. But the fact is it is very hard to keep the offshore wind turbines in peak operating condition as they have to operate in environments which are some of the most challenging. The manufacturers and operators have to face various challenges related to the humidity which are:

  • Moist air which contains salt particles can have damaging effects in nacelles and towers.
  • Many electronics, mechanical and structural problems arise from condensation and corrosion.
  • Operational glitches are frequent which results in service costs and this is all due to humidity.
  • The working environment is also very unhealthy and unsafe for the staff because of the slippery floors and microbial development.

Moisture in the air causes corrosion

Operating disruptions are caused by various reasons out of which airborne moisture is one of the major reasons. This humid air enters the tower and nacelles condenses causing corrosion in various mechanical and electronic equipment. The acidic salt particles in the air also help in corrosion. Much researches have shown that almost a quarter of breakdown in offshore wind turbines is directly or indirectly related to the moisture and corrosion caused by high humidity. 

Moist air is always dangerous but when they combine with acidic salts they form a deadly alliance for the offshore wind turbines. This also gives rise to mold problems, bacterial growth which results in risky environmental conditions to operate. With so many problems arising with humidity they often can combine together to create major operational glitches which can be really expensive for the investors. Click on the following link to read more on Dehumidifiers for Onshore Wind Turbines

Preventing corrosion contributes to the increase in manufacturing costs 

To counter various problems from corrosion the operators opt to use different materials and components that are more resistant to the corrosion. These options are often expensive. They also choose to use coatings that have higher corrosion ratings and IP classifications which are obviously expensive. All these uses of materials and coatings contribute to the rise in manufacturing costs.

Filtration isn’t enough

Many people think that removing acidic salts with conventional filtration is enough to keep the plant safe from corrosion which is absolutely not true. Conventional and traditional filters are only capable of filtering the salts which are not dissolved in moisture but not the salts dissolved in the moisture. The corrosive liquid also has been found to block the filters or pass right through in liquid form. With such a filtration system it is common to find moisture-laden air with corrosive nature throughout the nacelles and towers. 

The only cost-efficient and effective method to eliminate such problems is to maintain positive pressure inside the towers and nacelles. Ambale provides solutions which are Cotes wind overpressure systems which are a very unique combination of desalter and dehumidifier that will keep away the moist air in the towers and nacelles from ever getting in. These dehumidifiers are capable of tackling the humidity and salt content without costing the owner with excessive electric bills. 

Ambale Dehumidifiers and Wind overpressure systems are supplied in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Hamilton, Christchurch, Bay of Plenty, and in all cities of New Zealand. Contact our technical team by sending an email to info@ambale.co.nz or just call us on +64 22 061 7007