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Blade Erosion Loss Estimator

AEP impact of leading-edge erosion via power-curve deviation at mid-curve winds.

Leading-edge erosion silently shaves 1โ€“5% off AEP by degrading the blade aerofoil โ€” invisible in availability stats, visible in mid-curve power deviation. Compare measured power at 7โ€“10 m/s against the expected curve; a consistent 3%+ shortfall across that band is the classic erosion signature and usually pays for blade repair within a season.

+63.3%
Deviation from expected
On curve โ€” healthy
Verdict
Expected power343 kW (density-corrected)
Turbine rating2,000 kW at 12 m/s
Power fraction at this wind17.1%

Between cut-in and rated wind, power grows with the cube of wind speed โ€” a 10% anemometer error masquerades as a 33% power problem, so verify the met signal before blaming the turbine. Persistent deviation at mid-curve winds usually means pitch error or blade soiling/erosion.

Sources: IEC 61400-12-1 โ€” power performance measurements; P = ยฝฯAvยณCp (cubic region, density-corrected)

Engineering estimate from published standards and typical equipment data. Site conditions, equipment datasheets and measured data govern the real result โ€” confirm with a qualified engineer.

Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates โ€” verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.

Use the free Blade Erosion Loss Estimator online โ€” AEP impact of leading-edge erosion via power-curve deviation at mid-curve winds. Runs instantly in your browser: no signup, no upload, mobile-friendly.

About Blade Erosion Loss Estimator

Leading-edge erosion silently shaves 1โ€“5% off AEP by degrading the blade aerofoil โ€” invisible in availability stats, visible in mid-curve power deviation. Compare measured power at 7โ€“10 m/s against the expected curve; a consistent 3%+ shortfall across that band is the classic erosion signature and usually pays for blade repair within a season.

How to use Blade Erosion Loss Estimator

  1. 1Enter hub-height wind speed and the measured power at that moment.
  2. 2Adjust air density for your site and season.
  3. 3Read the deviation and the verdict; investigate persistent shortfalls.

Why use Blade Erosion Loss Estimator?

  • โœ“Density-corrected expected power โ€” the correction IEC 61400-12 mandates
  • โœ“Cubic-region physics: catches the 'small wind error, big power error' trap
  • โœ“Deviation verdicts ranked by real-world cause likelihood
  • โœ“Class-correct rated power and wind presets

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my wind turbine is underperforming?+

Compare measured power against the expected curve at the same wind speed and air density โ€” persistently 5%+ low across mid-range winds is real underperformance. Single points mean nothing (turbulence, averaging); patterns across many 10-minute intervals mean money.

What usually causes power-curve deviation?+

In field order: anemometer/wind-vane error (calibration drift, mounting), pitch miscalibration, blade soiling or erosion, yaw misalignment, and controller derating you forgot about. Hardware failure is the rarest cause โ€” measure twice before opening the gearbox.

Why correct for air density?+

Power is linear in density: a 45ยฐC afternoon at altitude carries ~12% less air than the 15ยฐC sea-level standard. Skip the correction and healthy turbines look sick every summer. The tool corrects automatically from your density input โ€” see the air-density tool for site values.

A 10% wind error means how much power error?+

~33% in the cubic region โ€” power scales with wind speed cubed below rated. This is why power-curve checks fail first on anemometry: verify the wind measurement (calibration, icing, wake) before judging the turbine by it.

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