At the 29th Technical Forum of the Philippine Coal Plant User’s Group (PCPUG), Hawkins’ Materials Expert Stephen Rowbotham delivered a presentation on the importance of condition monitoring in wind turbine gearboxes, a critical component in renewable energy infrastructure.
Stephen’s talk, titled “Condition monitoring of wind turbine gearboxes”, explored how techniques such as borescope inspections and oil analysis can detect early signs of degradation in rotating equipment. He outlined the typical damage mechanisms found in gearboxes, including abrasive wear, corrosive wear, and false brinelling, explaining how these can be classified from normal to excessive.
The presentation also covered key oil analysis methods and their diagnostic value, including:
- Noise impact assessments
- Room acoustics evaluations
- Noise at work assessments
- Vibration measurements
- Design consultations
Stephen emphasised that proactive condition monitoring not only reduces the risk of unplanned outages but also extends the operational life of wind turbine gearboxes, supporting the broader goals of sustainability and energy reliability.
Stephen is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, with extensive experience investigating failures in both renewable and thermal power systems. His work supports insurers, loss adjusters, and operators in understanding and mitigating engineering risks.
If your organisation is interested in a technical presentation or requires support with an investigation, please get in touch with our Power & Energy team.
