Tools for the job

Although research into renewable energy technology has been ongoing for some time, the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves has set a critical time-frame on the global adoption of alternative energy sources.

The good news for engineers is that the tools and technologies required for the completion of this task are becoming much more accessible. Through modular instrumentation, a precise, high-speed measurement platform is now available at much lower cost.

Technologies such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and remote monitoring allow advanced control systems to be implemented more cost effectively. The performance and flexibility of these tools can then be maximised by integration with high level, intuitive graphical programming software.

This approach, defined as graphical system design, provides engineers with a technique to develop custom-made, versatile solutions to complex problems faced when trying to design, develop and improve technologies and processes that result in environmental and economic benefits.

One area where this approach can have significant benefits is in the continuing development of wind turbine designs. Monitoring of power quality, structural integrity, gearbox performance, noise/acoustic emissions and electrical output provide engineers with a full complement of measurements to identify possible improvements for the next generation of turbine.