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July 2012
ARTICLES
Micro wind nacelles have a major impact while being kind to the environment
Going green doesn’t necessarily mean that you must erect an 80, 90, or even a 100-meter tower. Micro wind nacelles have a major impact while being kind to the environment.
Going green doesn’t just mean building the highest and biggest mW hour nacelle. There are many other facets to the wind industry that in some circles go unnoticed. It is easy to give attention to the projects that involve the biggest economical impact, but sometimes the smaller projects tend to be more interesting. If we […]
Chris Martin
Some critical subsystems remain in the capable hands of the wind technician
Despite sophisticated control systems on modern wind turbines, some critical subsystems remain in the capable hands of the wind technician to monitor their integrity and safe operation.
It was not so long ago that control systems utilized physical indicator lights and annunciators to provide a warning system of system faults on operating equipment. Despite the advancement in technology from these time-tested control panels to high-tech computer monitoring systems, somehow they still lack the capability to remotely monitor some critical subsystems that are […]
Merritt Brown
Graphical Processing Units offer a promising solution for parallelizing computations of N-body problems
Graphical Processing Units offer a promising solution for parallelizing computations of N-body problems and drastically accelerating computations.
Unsteady aerodynamics caused by platform kinematics represents a significant increase in system complexity for offshore wind turbines. Offshore floating wind turbines (OFWTs) present significant advantages over conventional offshore fixed foundation wind turbines, and can harness the vast deep water wind resource while avoiding many of the public acceptance issues that have impeded near shore development. […]
Matthew A. Lackner, Ph.D.
Logistics planning becomes more difficult with uncertainty about the future of wind energy tax credits
Unlike previous years, AWEA Windpower 2012 held in Atlanta, had less than stellar attendance. Unfortunately, the attendance downturn will very likely parallel the downturn in wind turbine installations next year. The reasons are well known and include the uncertainty of tax credits, tight credit and general global economic forces. Everyone I talked to at the […]
Michael Graska
NEWS
BREAKING: Catch the Wind Unveils New Brand, Now Operating as BlueScout Technologies
Rebranding effort signifies commitment to the wind industry-rooted in a fresh mission and vision that is data-driven and customer-focused CHANTILLY, VA, Aug. 1, 2012 /CNW/ – Catch the Wind Ltd. (TSX-V: CTW, providers of predictive Optical Control Systems(OCS) for optimized wind energy generation, today announced the complete rebrand of the company, now operating through its wholly-owned subsidiary […]
July 27, 2012
Six Attendees at Windpower 2012 Win Safety Harnesses and Toolboxes
Wind Systems partnered with Capital Safety and Snap-On Tools to raffle Snap-On toolboxes and ExoFit NEX Global Wind Energy Harnesses at the AWEA Windpower 2012 show in Atlanta, GA. Raffle tickets were provided each day of the event to those visiting the Wind Systems booth where they received free subscriptions to the magazine and information […]
July 6, 2012
DeTect Completes MERLIN Avian Radar System Installation at the C-Power Offshore Wind Farm in Belgium
The MERLIN Avian Radar System was purchased by the Management Unit of North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM), a division of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), and was delivered to Belgium in January 2011 to collect data on bird activity along the coast at Zebrugge. MUMM studies the effects of offshore wind parks […]
July 5, 2012
Baker Renewable Energy Installs Wind Energy System at James Madison University
Baker Renewable Energy announced today it has installed a wind energy system at James Madison University featuring a 7.5-kilowatt Bergey wind turbine. Baker Renewable Energy installed the turbine as part of the Small Wind Training and Testing Facility, an educational initiative launched by the Virginia Center for Wind Energy (VCWE). The wind system is capable […]
July 5, 2012
Consert Inc., and Novatel Wireless Win 2012 CTIA E-Tech Awards
Consert Inc., and Novatel Wireless, Inc., are the winners in the Green Telecom and Smart Energy Solutions category of the 2012 International CTIA Wireless Emerging Technology (E-Tech) awards program.The CTIA E-Tech Awards honors the most innovative new products in 15 categories spanning the areas of mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and infrastructure. Hundreds of entries […]
July 5, 2012
AMSC Receives 100 MW Wind Turbine Electrical Control System Order from Inox Wind
AMSC, a global solutions provider serving wind and grid leaders, announces that Inox Wind Limited, part of India’s Inox Group of Companies, placed a follow-on order for 50 of AMSC’s electrical control systems (ECS) for Inox’s 2 megawatt (MW) wind turbines. AMSC expects to ship all of these systems to Inox in 2012. This is […]
July 5, 2012
Streamlining Wind Permitting in Maine
New legislation creates further streamlining for wind project permitting in Maine. Governor Paul LePage signed legislation LD 1798 to revamp the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC). The reforms within the legislation include moving all permitting review for grid scale wind projects in the Unorganized Territories to the jurisdiction of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MeDEP).Previously, […]
July 5, 2012
Moventas Wins Contract to Supply New 5MW Offshore Wind Gears to Areva
Moventas continues to strengthen its offshore capability with its 5MW medium speed wind gear. In the beginning of May, Moventas delivered two 5MW offshore wind gears to AREVA Wind. The two companies have signed an 80 million euro agreement on future deliveries.After approximately one year of testing, Moventas and AREVA Wind, subsidiary of the multi-national […]
July 5, 2012
Moog Pitch Control and Blade Sensing Systems Highlight Reliability
Moog Industrial Group introduces its electric pitch control systems for controlling the angle of inclination of a wind turbine’s blades. Moog’s array of hardware, software and services also includes blade-sensing systems, rotor monitoring systems, slip rings and global training and services.Moog has supplied more than 27,000 systems and products to many of the world’s top-ten […]
July 5, 2012
Mediaco Maxlift Raises Tower at French Port
Crane service provider Mediaco Maxilift recently lifted the tower of a dockside crane from its base at a French port to make it possible to perform necessary maintenance work. In order to safely lift the 414-tonne (456 US tons) load and then place it back on its base, the company relied on the powerful performance […]
July 5, 2012
Redstone College Prepares Its Wind Energy Technology Graduates for Workforce
Redstone College, a Denver-based institution of higher learning, celebrated the commencement of its fourth graduating class from its Wind Energy Technology Program on May 21, bringing the total number of graduates since the program launched in August 2010 to 106. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Colorado is one of the top 10 […]
July 5, 2012
Latest Tests Confirm Increased Energy Generation of Evance Small Wind Turbine
During the last few months the Evance R9000 small wind turbine has undergone further tests which have confirmed its energy generation has increased by over 4% to 9,167kWh at a wind speed of 5 meters per second.The R9000 small wind turbine was one of the first small wind turbines to achieve SWCC conditional certification last […]
July 5, 2012
PSI Repair Services Introduces Off-Warranty Repair Support
PSI Repair Services, Inc., introduces its off-warranty repair support for wind energy operations and maintenance (O&M) professionals.PSI Repair Services offers fast, affordable repairs, including upgraded/longer-life products, for out-of-warranty electronic, hydraulic and precision mechanical components that drive your turbines’ pitch and yaw systems and down tower electronics. Components repaired include printed circuit boards, PLCs, control cards, […]
July 5, 2012
Israel Barajas and Ken McGraw Join Wind Energy Services
Wind Energy Services Company (WES) announced that two new teammates have joined the company.Israel Barajas has been appointed HSE Manager with primary responsibility for programs and practices to maintain and enhance the company’s industry-leading safety record. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the composites industry. The last 14 years he has been […]
July 5, 2012
Omega Morgan Provides Moving Installation Services for Prototype Turbines
Omega Morgan, one of the West Coast’s leading heavy equipment transport companies, offered free moving and installation services today for a prototype smaller, lighter, gearless wind turbine and four towers from the Portland area to the Port of Arlington, Oregon.Harry Lee, developer of the new product and Genesis Wind Inc.’s CEO, said his turbine is […]
July 5, 2012
Woodland Workwear Awarded Utility Patent for KNEEDZ Kneepad
Woodland Workwear USA announces it has received a utility patent and trademarke for its KNEEDZ Gel kneepad technology.“This has been a long process but definitely well worth the wait. We are very pleased with the outcome and now we can continue to focus on promoting our KNEEDZ® Gel Kneepad work pants knowing that we have patent […]
July 5, 2012
Slipring Harness Failure Modes and Solutions
Exposure to torsion, oil, abrasion, temperature extremes and human interference can cause downtime and loss of production.Original equipment manufacturers are required to provide complete systems for industrial applications. Typically, the technical expertise lies in the most critical aspect of the project. Subsequently, many ancillary components are designed to the best of their abilility, but an […]
July 5, 2012
Collierâs HyperSizer v6.2 Improves Design and Manufacturability of Composites and Metals
Collier Research Corporation today announced the release of HyperSizer®v6.2 structural sizing and analysis software. The latest version of the product, which is used widely in the spacecraft and aviation industries, includes new modeling capabilities for airframe wing box designs, and laminate zone and ply-count optimization enhancements to improve manufacturing efficiency.New features and enhancements in HyperSizer v6.2 […]
July 5, 2012
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Virtual Power Stations Communicate With âbluecomâ From Bachmann Electronic
The requirement placed on state-of-the-art wind farms to respond to the power grid like a single conventional power station requires the use of a central wind farm controller: communication is required in very high speed. Bachmann electronic presents ‘bluecom’ – a communication solution specially developed for smart grids.‘bluecom’ is based on conventional Ethernet technology and […]
July 5, 2012
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: O&M Products Increase Equipment Reliability and Reduce Downtime and Failure
For O&M applications on wind turbines, Henkel Corporation has introduced a full line of Loctite® adhesives, sealants, lubricants and coatings for installation and maintenance of blades, nacelles, towers and bases.For rotor blade repair, Loctite® high performance polyurethane resins cure rapidly at room temperature, significantly reducing downtime associated with blade maintenance. Developed using the same standards […]
July 5, 2012
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Positioning Spray by 3M Integrates During Infusion Process
3M™ introduces the new 3M™ Adjustable Composite Positioning System (ACPS) 11095, a spray designed for pre-infusion resin bond dry reinforcements and composite matrices.The unique properties of 3M™ ACPS 11095 enable it to integrate into the part during resin infusion, eliminating read-through and transition layers in the part post-cure. This patent-pending system offers manufacturers benefits in […]
July 5, 2012
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Easily Erect and Disassemble Scaffolding with Scaffold Ratchet
When the job calls for erecting scaffolding to work at an elevated level, the new Williams® Scaffolding Ratchet from Snap-on Industrial Brands can be a true time saver.The scaffolding ratchet is three tools in one. The ratchet includes tools that erectors need to easily and quickly engage the posts, fasteners and clamps on scaffolding. Since […]
July 5, 2012
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Sonoco Expands EcoReel Recycling Program
Sonoco is expanding its innovative EcoReel® recycling program to include scrap cable recovery at wind farm construction sites. Together with associate company American Cable Recyclers, Sonoco takes care of unwinding, securing and purchasing high-value #1 and #2 insulated or bare brite copper remnants. The company also unwinds, stores and buys scrap URD and other cable […]
July 5, 2012
PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Availonâs New Positioning Controller Improves Availability
Availon, Inc., a premier independent provider of parts and engineering services to the wind power industry in North America, is pleased to introduce a thoroughly redesigned, robust, and cost-efficient pitch controller.True to the company’s “We Listen” stance, Availon has partnered with Lenord + Bauer, the world renowned manufacturer of innovative automation systems for industrial motion […]
July 5, 2012
76 Terex Tower Cranes Delivered to Venezuela
TerexTM Cranes announces that it has received an order for 76 flat top tower cranes for PDVSA – Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. The State owned company will utilize most of the cranes for a housing project that involves building 50,000 residencies per year. Of the 76 cranes, 38 are CTT 161A-6TS and 38 are CTT […]
July 1, 2012
