PUFFER
An innovative wind turbine blade repair platform
Publieke samenvatting / Public summary
Korte omschrijving
Performing blade coating maintenance and repair from an inflatable platform, the PUFFER, protecting the technicians from the surrounding harsh environment. The PUFFER will be suspended from cables and can be manoeuvred along the blade to reach all areas with sub-optimal coating or with leading edge degradations. In this project Ampelmann and TNO will optimize the design of the PUFFER, engineer and build an optimized prototype and compare the effects of various design drivers of the PUFFER concept on annual energy production and O&M costs. RWE will participate in the form of facilitating tests on their WTG's and thinking along in the practical issues faced during these tests. The latter could lead to new input for further development.
Performing blade coating maintenance and repair from an inflatable platform, the PUFFER, protecting the technicians from the surrounding harsh environment. The PUFFER will be suspended from cables and can be manoeuvred along the blade to reach all areas with sub-optimal coating or with leading edge degradations. In this project Ampelmann and TNO will optimize the design of the PUFFER, engineer and build an optimized prototype and compare the effects of various design drivers of the PUFFER concept on annual energy production and O&M costs. RWE will participate in the form of facilitating tests on their WTG's and thinking along in the practical issues faced during these tests. The latter could lead to new input for further development.