Multidimensional Power Reliability Assessment of Adama Wind Farm
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Date
2025-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This research aims to evaluate the multidimensional power reliability of wind farms equipped with both geared and gearless wind turbines, considering their impact on overall efficiency and profitability. Through a comparative analysis, real-time data from operational wind farms is collected to assess power reliability metrics, employing qualitative and quantitative approaches. Statistical models such as fault tree analysis and reliability engineering techniques are utilized to calculate failure rates and downtime, determining the reliability indices of geared and gearless wind turbines. Factors such as wind availability, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and identification of common failure modes and weakest components are considered. The results reveal that the gearless wind farm experienced a 12,700-hour shutdown due to a pitch fault, with sensors having a high failure rate of 8,950 occurrences. Common failure modes were over temperature and pitch angle, leading to estimated costs of 6.93 ETB, an LCOE of 78%, and availability. In the geared farm, the longest shutdown recorded was 3,700 hours caused by a yaw system fault, with the yaw system component having a high failure rate of 60,000 occurrences. Common failure modes were yaw motor failure and yaw twisting, resulting in estimated costs of 5.94 ETB, an LCOE of 83%, and availability. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing wind farm operations and conducting comprehensive power reliability assessments.
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Keywords
Gearless Wind Turbine, Geared Wind Turbine, Wind farm, LCOE, Power reliability, Failure modes, Downtime, Failure tree analysis, Failure rate, Shutdown duration, Efficiency, Reliability indices, Comparative analysis