Innovative Sensing and Monitoring of Shaft Torque Variations for an Optimized O&M of Wind Turbines

Shaft torque is a physical parameter that reflects actual force exchanges and provides a direct insight in the mechanical loading of slowly rotating drivetrain components. In general, parameters related to component loading bring in more information for integrity assessment when compared to indirect parameters related to the reaction of components on forces, such as vibration measurements on bearings or gears. Several technological barriers prevent shaft torque from being used systematically in condition monitoring today. This paper presents key findings of the TorqMonWind project. This 2-year project, finishing in March 2019, tackles the challenges for the introduction of shaft torque monitoring as a condition monitoring technique for wind turbine drivetrains. Project partners are ENGIE Laborelec and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The project is supported by public funding from the Flemish government.