Fire Damage in the Converter Cabinet of a Wind Turbine
What happened?
After a fire in the converter cabinet of a wind turbine, BELFOR was called in to determine the extent of the damage. The analysis revealed that the entire cabinet and its surroundings were heavily contaminated. Measurements showed a high chloride load.
The contamination posed significant risks to the system:
- Corrosion damage to bare metals, supports and bracing,
- Short-circuit danger for sensitive electrical components,
- Possible long-term consequential damage to operation and safety.
To avoid follow-up costs and prolonged downtime, fast professional remediation was necessary.
Before Restoration | After Restoration
Remediation within two days
First, the affected converter cabinet and its surroundings were thoroughly cleaned of soot and foreign particles using high-performance vacuum cleaners and oil-free compressed air.
Next, technicians wiped all surfaces by hand with an alkaline BELFOR-cleaner, rinsed them thoroughly and dried them carefully.
Finally, the surfaces were neutralized so that no residue remained.
Quality control: Chloride tests confirmed that on the control cabinet, switch cabinet and generator no contamination was measurable after remediation.
Before Restoration | After Restoration
Result
The restoration completely returned the plant to a safe condition: All measured chloride values on the treated surfaces were 0 µg/cm² upon completion of the work, meaning that neither corrosion nor short-circuit risks remained.
Thanks to the rapid implementation by BELFOR, downtime was reduced to a minimum and consequential damage was sustainably prevented.
The work was executed in accordance with DGUV Rule 101-004 (BGR 128) and the guidelines for handling hazardous substances. The wind turbine could be returned to operation without restrictions.
Before Restoration | After Restoration
