ARTICLES
There is both science and math at the core of all rigging techniques. In this installment we discuss techniques used in wind park construction.
Wind park maintenance, as we learned last month, can be quite the rigging challenge. If we focus on the flip side of the coin, wind park construction, we will see that rigging challenges exist here as well. This month we will take a deeper look behind the scenes of rigging. We are going to learn […]
Chris Martin
With the increase in megawatt output, wind turbines and associated components pose maintenance challenges. Here is the second of a two-part series on the issue.
This month we continue our conversation about safe practices for wind technicians. Inarguably, one of the more demanding tasks of a wind technician is to enter a rotor hub and perform any form of maintenance in this small space. An entirely uncomfortable position for the human body, working in such an area where leverage angles […]
Merritt Brown
Offshore floating wind turbines offer a compelling means of harnessing the massive resources available in deeper waters, but you must understand the physics that underlie their behavior.
Most utility-scale wind turbines look the same: three blades, tapering in spanwise chord and twist from root to tip, rotor located upwind relative to the nacelle. This apparent convergence of designed form implies a thorough understanding of the aerodynamically-derived forces acting on a wind turbine. In reality, wind turbine aerodynamics are exceptionally complex. These complexities […]
Matthew A. Lackner, Ph.D.
Planning and preparation are critical to any successful project, but indecision is the enemy of efficiency. Timely decisions keep schedules on track.
The contract is finally signed, and everyone lets out a sigh of relief. Six months of hard negotiations hammered home an agreement. The only problem now is that we only have two months allotted time to start the project ramp up, when even in ideal situations it takes four months. Hey, we got the contract, […]
Michael Graska
NEWS
MAG’s modular HMC 1250/1600 Series is engineered for high-precision, high-productivity machining of large aerospace, power generation, pump, valve, and off-road equipment parts. It now includes eight spindle options to suit special-purpose or general machining requirements. The new 6000 and 8000 rpm/46-kW (61.6-hp) tilt-spindles—with +90/-120 degree A-axis travel—joins an all-around 10,000 rpm/ 46-kW (62-hp) spindle, high-speed […]
March 7, 2012
BNSF Railway has released two new online tools that offer an easier, more effective way for existing and potential customers to compare carload shipping options. The new tools—Carload Shipping Advisor and Serving Carrier Reciprocal Switch Inquiry—allow customers to compare shipping options by price, equipment, and route for multiple origins and destinations. “All of the features […]
March 7, 2012
Building on its initial success in the renewable energy market, Austal has confirmed a contract for a fourth wind farm support vessel for Turbine Transfers Limited. The order is the first for a new Austal design that will enable safer and more efficient offshore wind turbine service. Welcoming the follow-up order from the UK-based company, […]
March 7, 2012
Sapa Extrusions North America announces the launch of a new marketing campaign to showcase the advanced technical expertise, unprecedented resources, and customer-focused solutions that have made Sapa the world’s largest aluminum extruder. Coining the term AluminologySM, which is the culmination of these attributes and knowledge, Sapa’s new campaign focuses on defining the innovative best practices […]
March 7, 2012
Wind energy is playing an increasingly important role in meeting Ontario’s demand for electricity, according to the Independent Electricity System Operator’s annual release of supply, demand, and price data. Total wind energy production rang in at 3.9 terawatt hours TWh—up substantially from 2.8 TWh in 2010. November 2011 marked the highest monthly wind output ever […]
March 7, 2012
Focusing on innovation—the major driver of the wind energy industry—tracks will cover six topics from policies and markets to financing grids and science. Bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to exchange the latest knowledge, forge meaningful business relationships and create connections with influential people around the world. The EWEA 2012 Annual Event will […]
March 7, 2012
Gurit has launched a new range of G-PET structural foam. The new G-PET products are targeting mainly the global wind turbine blade manufacturing and marine markets. The new range offers a unique combination of properties, including class-leading shear elongation, finer cell size, excellent chemical resistance, and good adhesion, as well as high process temperature resistance. […]
March 7, 2012
