In the course of the BMWi-funded project "Innovative Test Methodology for Fiber Composite Components in the Rotor Blade Sector" (InFaRo), a radar system for the inspection of rotor blades of wind turbines is being developed.
Non-defective material testing is an important component in the production process of rotor blades for wind turbines. Various systems are available for this purpose. Conventional methods such as thermography or ultrasound already provide good results in the detection of defects. However, radar systems offer the possibility of simplifying and further improving the inspections.
By designing an H-band radar, the resolution can be increased compared to the existing systems in the W-band and thus errors in the material can be detected more easily. This leads to a higher quality in the production, avoidance of costs due to the maintenance work and of course also to an increase, in the safety of the wind turbines, as certain defects can be excluded more consistently.
The Institute of Robust Power Semiconductor Systems (ILH) focuses on the design of the transmit and receive components (analogue frontend) of such a H-band radar. The broadband transmitters and receivers in the millimetre wave frequency range are designed in the form of monolithically integrated millimetre wave circuits (MMIC) using Fraunhofer IAF's semiconductor technology, optimized for the specifications of the project and manufactured at Fraunhofer IAF as a part of multi-project wafer runs.
In addition to the ILH, the composite structure is also composed of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF) as project coordinator, Composite Material Supply (CMS), which supplies material samples and tests the measuring system during the production of wind power belts, carries out composites, carries out comparative measurements with thermography and builds up the measuring system, and the Society for the Promotion of Applied Computer Science (GFaI), which offers a suitable software solution for the measurement of the measuring system.
For additonal information please visit:
www.infaro.de
Christopher Grötsch
Dr.-Ing.Research Assistant