Maintenance of Drivetrain
Following successful pilot projects, Bachmann electronic, based in Austria, has moved its CMScore condition monitoring system into series production.
Designed for condition-based maintenance of the drivetrain in wind turbines, the system is suitable for new installations, as well as retrofitting existing turbines and replacing failed legacy systems.
For data acquisition, CMScore uses piezoelectric IEPE sensors with sampling rates of up to 25.6 kHz, allowing it to capture measurements from slow-rotating drivetrain components.
The compact hardware features eight IEPE channels, two speed inputs, and two analogue inputs. It runs on 24 VDC, draws less than 10 W, weighs about 2.6 kg, and measures 30 × 20 × 8 cm.
The system transmits the recorded data to the WebLog Suite server-based software, where it is analysed and automatically converted into alarms and reports.
This connection also enables the centralized analysis and consistent monitoring of mixed turbine fleets with different monitoring systems.
For operators, the benefit lies primarily in the combination of minimal effort and early damage detection. Existing IEPE sensors can be integrated, reducing procurement and installation costs and simplifying retrofit projects.
The compact design and straightforward installation reduce downtime during assembly. Precise data acquisition forms the basis for predictive maintenance, enabling damage to drivetrain components to be detected early and reducing unplanned downtime.
Bachmann states the payback period as one to three years, after which the hardware can be reused in other turbines.
Bachmann also offers a Remote Monitoring Service that utilizes DNV-certified processes for condition monitoring, leveraging measurement data from over 10,000 turbines.
This provides operators with a scalable solution to support the availability and operational reliability of their turbines.
