Wind turbine maintenance need to be provided in a clean manner
Maintaining cleanliness while repairing wind turbine blades with no exaggeration is critical. Dust, dirt, or impurities on the blade surface could disrupt the repair process, resulting in poor bonding of materials or coatings. Clean surfaces promote good adhesion of sealants or composite patches, increasing the endurance and efficacy of repairs. Furthermore, clean blades reduce the risk of defects or damage reoccurring, ensuring the turbine operates efficiently. Proper cleanliness also guarantees wind turbine technician safety, since dirty surfaces can be slippery or disguise damage, increasing the likelihood of an accident. Thus, cleanliness is critical for the longevity and safety of wind turbine repair.
This is why, from the first day of the GWO Blade Repair training, we pay so much attention to cleanliness.
Our trainer, Olegs Pilats, a wind turbine repair technician for over 10 years, is particularly illustrative regarding accuracy and neatness. We asked him about his attitude to cleanliness in the blade repair process.
Neatness and cleanliness as a wind turbine technician requirements
Gone are the days when seeing a man in a dirty labourer’s uniform made you think, ‘That’s a hard worker!’
Nowadays, perceptions and attitudes are fundamentally different. The cleaner your appearance and workspace, the more professional you are. The capacity to maintain cleanliness during wind turbine maintenance is an important aspect of professional competence.
The cleaner your uniform, the more visible your face is!
When working with chemicals, the wind turbine technician must wear a protective suit. Gloves, goggles, masks, and other personal protective equipment—everything must be in its place and must be clean. On the one side, this affects the quality of the protection; on the other side, it affects the cleanliness of the work. After all, when dealing with chemical elements, formulas, processes, and conditions must be observed. Composites do not tolerate amateurishness, unintentional impurities, and other things that are so easy to miss if the work surface is not kept clean.
That is why I have emphasized cleanliness and neatness to the wind turbine technician apprentice since the first days of wind technician training. And that’s why, in addition to the accessories directly related to the wind turbine inspection and repair, we also have vacuum cleaners, brooms, rags, cleaning products, replacement PPE, and more.
Materials and blade repair technology are very sensitive to debris in general. Moisture, dust, lint, and other external parts should never enter the resin and strength components. This can significantly affect the structure, compromising its integrity and therefore the strength of the entire repair area.
Tools and equipment must be cleaned after each application. It is essential to use clean containers for mixing the components and not to leave them on the work surface when finished.
Thus, when you are going to become a wind turbine technician, be ready to develop your cleaner skills too and succeed as a true professional with our trainers on the GWO Blade Repair course at IQTC.
