More efficient wind turbine manufacture
Power generation from renewable sources is a key part of Covestro’s sustainability concept. This applies above all to wind power, which is one of the most promising renewable energy sources due to its global availability and the technical progress already made
Wind power capacity is seeing double-digit annual growth across the globe. Cost-efficient processes for manufacturing wind turbines are in greater demand than ever to enable further expansion. Once in operation, the aim is for turbines to be used over a lengthy period with the lowest possible maintenance requirements. This is particularly true of offshore turbines, some of which are exposed to extreme environmental conditions.
Covestro’s innovative and sustainable material solutions improve the efficiency of wind turbine manufacture and support the creation of further onshore and offshore wind farms with a long service life. The company has its own competence centre in Otterup, Denmark, to coordinate its global wind energy activities. “Our aim is to use creative and sometimes unexpected solutions to make the world a brighter place – and power generation is part of this,” said Kim Klausen, who is in charge of Covestro’s global wind energy programme.
Covestro will be showcasing its latest developments at the K 2016 plastics trade fair. One example is a special infusion resin for the cost-efficient manufacture of rotor blades. In conjunction with reinforcing glass fibers and an efficient production process, this resin enables short cycle times. “This is a clear cost advantage for manufacturers,” said Klausen. “After all, rotor blades account for around a quarter of the total cost of new wind turbines.” The resin also exhibits very good mechanical properties.
The half-shells for the rotor blades are efficiently manufactured using the vacuum infusion process. This involves placing the core materials and glass fibre fabrics in a mould and sealing the structure hermetically with a film. Once the vacuum has been created, introducing the liquid resin starts the infusion process. A version of the process optimized for polyurethane resins was developed by HÜBERS in collaboration with Covestro.
Short cycle times
Thanks to the vacuum, the process only requires a relatively short amount of time and prevents the formation of cavities. The advantage that polyurethane resin has over epoxy resins is that it flows more easily and ensures better wetting of the glass fibres used for reinforcement. The curing process starts when the mould is subsequently heated and is faster than when using epoxy resins.
Covestro recently created the first ever large polyurethane rotor blade in China. It was manufactured at the Shanghai FRP Research Institute in collaboration with HÜBERS and glass fabric manufacturer Chongqing Polycomp. International Corp. (CPIC). The blade is 37.5 meters long and dimensioned for an output of 1.5 megawatts. This provides important evidence that the resin is suitable for industrial production. In collaboration with industry partners such as glass fabric supplier SAERTEX®, Covestro is planning to produce further prototypes.
The company has also developed a cost- and time-efficient solution for the coating of steel towers and rotor blades. With Pasquick® technology, the number of coats can be reduced compared with the conventional process. What’s more, the coatings cure faster. Both factors help to further reduce the cycle time and the manufacturing costs of wind turbines.
The corrosion protection is just as long-lasting and high in quality as with the standard process. This is an important prerequisite for turbines with long service lives and minimal maintenance requirements and thus for the cost-effective use of wind energy.
The same applies to the rotor blades: During a windstorm, even raindrops can act like bullets at a height of 90 meters – especially at the tips of rotor blades. And offshore turbines face the added problem of saltwater. Polyaspartic coatings offer perfect protection here as well. The low-solvent coatings also set standards when it comes to sustainability.
With developments like these, Covestro is making the world a brighter place and offering added value for companies in the sector. Leading manufacturers of wind turbines therefore have already embraced the Pasquick® technology.
Durable cable protection
Maintenance at sea can be associated with huge costs, especially for operators of offshore wind farms. Subsea cables that are permanently exposed to strong currents are particularly susceptible to damage. Covestro elastomers based on the Baytec® and Desmodur® polyurethane systems are ideal for robust cable protection and have long been used for this purpose. The protective systems benefit from excellent impact strength and decomposition resistance. Unlike steel and concrete, components require no further processing, which saves a significant amount of time and money when building offshore wind farms.
Tekmar Energy Ltd. is one of the companies to be won over by these benefits. The European market leader in the production of subsea cables is making exclusive use of Covestro’s products for the construction of offshore wind farms in China. The two companies recently signed a collaboration agreement to address the increasing demand in the Chinese market.
With 2015 sales of EUR 12.1 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, has 30 production sites around the globe and as of the end of 2015 employed approximately 15800 people (full-time equivalents). The company is actually celebrating its first birthday after being a separate enterprise from Bayer.
Photo In collaboration with partners; Covestro recently created the first ever large polyurethane rotor blade in China. It is 37.5 meters long and dimensioned for an output of 1.5 megawatts. This provides important evidence that the resin is suitable for industrial production.