False Ice Alarms at 20°C Led to Avoidable Turbine Stops
"Kavaken identified repeated turbine stoppages caused by false ice detection signals, even at temperatures above 20°C. The insight directed attention to control system calibration rather than environmental factors."
The Impact
The Issue
The turbine repeatedly stopped under the 'Ctrl StallIceDetectStop' alarm, typically associated with ice buildup on blades. However, the events occurred in warm weather conditions, indicating a false detection in the control system rather than actual icing.
The Action
Kavaken analyzed outage patterns and found that stops were triggered by false stall or ice detection signals. By confirming that ambient temperatures were well above icing thresholds, Kavaken helped the operator rule out environmental causes and focus on sensor and control system calibration. This avoided unnecessary downtime and ensured targeted corrective action.