CleanWinTur (CWT)
Marine growth on an offshore wind turbine (OWT) presents major structural lifetime and safety challenges to operators and maintenance workers. The CWT anti-fouling system solves this problem by detering new marine growth on structures, ensuring optimal and safe operation. The first generation of the CWT product family is targeted at OWT access ladders.
Currently, the preferred route for removing the biofouling on access ladders is to undertake periodic, manual, pressure-jet cleaning from diesel-powered marine vessels. However, biofouling can start to gather on the ladder again within days of the cleaning process being completed. Wind turbines are being located further from shore, making it increasingly difficult to maintain the ladders. In response to these challenges, CWT has been developed to revolutionise the way these assets are maintained.
Environmentally friendly design
It is widely understood that chemical anti-fouling compounds have an adverse effect on non-target marine organisms due to their high persistence and toxicity. This has led to widespread restrictions in their use. Therefore, removal of biofouling in OWTs is undertaken predominantly using high power water jets. The process is costly and requires prolonged deployment of diesel-powered marine vessels.
Our CWT system is considered to be the only non-toxic, zero carbon-emission technique capable of keeping OWT structures free from biofouling. Conservative estimates suggest that when compared with the use of marine vessels to clean near-shore wind farms, CWT offers a reduction in GHG emissions of >11 tonnes of CO2 per access ladder over a 10-year period.
Built for increased safety
Climbing and vessel transfers to slippery access ladders presents a significant hazard to the maintenance crews and periodic cleaning allows fouling to build up between visits. Installing a CWT system maintains the access ladders in the best possible condition for use 100% of the time.
Workers climbing access ladders must use the ladder rungs in line with recommended practice for working at height. The new CWT anti-fouling technology does not interfere with the use of the ladder as per recommended practice.
Easy installation
The CWT system can be installed during wind turbine normal operation, with no shutdown required. The flexible mounting system ensures that the anti-fouling system can be fitted to any size of access ladder. The easy- to-use mounting system can be fitted by a single, harnessed worker in just a few minutes.
Remote System Control
The CWT signal generator includes connectivity to permit remote power control of the system, performance analysis and diagnosis. Connectivity may be established with the system through the easy-to-use web-based CWT application