Stochastic Modeling Of Wind Turbine Drivetrain Components

Cost reduction is a substantial requirement for wind turbines to become competitive compared to other energy supply techniques. For offshore wind turbines the costs for Operation and Maintenance (OM) are significant. One of the reasons for the high OM costs is unplanned repair, and therefore reliable components are needed for wind turbine. In this paper focus is on reliability of critical components in drivetrain such as bearings and shafts. High failure rates of these components imply a need for more reliable components. To estimate the reliability of these components, stochastic models are needed for initial defects and damage accumulation. In this paper, stochastic models are formulated considering some of the failure modes observed in these components. The models are based on theoretical considerations, manufacturing uncertainties, size effects of different scales. It is illustrated how the stochastic models can be used to obtain estimates of failure rates for wind turbine components.