An electronic components distributor has announced a global distribution agreement with Maxwell Technologies. Digi-Key Corp. will offer Maxwell’s ultracapacitor products to its customers. Maxwell’s primary focus is on ultracapacitors: energy storage devices characterized by relatively high power density, long life, the ability to charge and discharge rapidly, and reliable performance at extreme temperatures, says Digi-Key. […]
Wind industry must not stagnate
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article comes from PM-generator manufacturer The Switch As CEO of The Switch, a Finnish generator manufacturer, I have watched windpower weather financial and political uncertainty and remain a growing business. More countries are adopting installed renewable energy. Finland, for instance, installed 9 MW last year and plans to have 2500 MW by […]
Altra Industrial Motion breaks ground in China
A manufacturer of industrial couplings has broken ground for a 90,000 sq. ft. facility in Changzhou, China. Altra says it new plant, near Shanghai, will let the company better serve the Chinese market by providing shorter lead times and enhanced technical support. Initially, production of couplings at the new facility will be focused on products […]
Flexible storage creates space
A flexible storage system lets parts managers create storage spaces appropriate for different parts. Equipto says traditional storage shelves offer more space than modular drawer cabinets, but a tremendous amount of storage space can be wasted. The company’s V-Grip storage system, which starts as shelving, lets parts managers create denser storage. Shelves, drawers, and other […]
Scientists say Texas wind farms warm the ground
An area in Texas with four of the world’s largest wind farms has showed an increase in land surface temperature over nine years, a phenomenon catching the attention of scientists. Researchers have connected the local meteorological effects to wind turbines. The land surface temperature around the west-central Texas wind farms warmed at a rate of […]
Oklahoma wind farm begins operation with new name
The Big Smile Wind Farm at Dempsey Ridge in Oklahoma is up and running with a new name. The 132-MW project is on 10,888 acres of Roger Mills and Beckham Counties. The project is 15 miles west of Acciona’s 123-MW Red Hills Wind Farm that opened in June 2009. Formerly the Dempsey Ridge Wind Farm, […]
Company installs 300 climb assist systems in Kansas
Power Climber Wind has installed the IBEX 1000 climb assist system at the Flat Ridge II and Flat Ridge Expansion wind farms near Harper, Kansas. The system, which is on nearly 300 turbines, will give technicians control over their climbing speed, which the company says will deliver increased productivity and improved health and safety by […]
Energy management software company wins multimillion dollar deal
Two Latin American power companies have signed separate deals with a developer of energy managament software. Ventyx, part of ABB, will provide the companies’ electric grid controls with its Network Manager SCADA/Energy Management System. In Chile, Ventyx will work with CDEC-SIC, an independent system operator responsible for powering 92% of the population there, and whose […]
Graphene shows promise as thin anti-corrosion coating
Research now shows that graphene is the thinnest coating for protecting metals against corrosion. A study on this potential new use of graphene appears in ACS Nano, in which researchers say they’re finding new ways to slow or prevent corrosion on metals, such as those used with windpower technology. One approach to prevent corrosion involves […]
Angle encoder works to high accuracy
Absolute angle encoders have integral bearings, hollow shafts, and connect to Fanuc controls. Heidenhain’s RCN 2000, 5000, and 8000 series have diagnostic functions, plug-in cables with a quick disconnect at the encoder, and a variety of hollow shaft diameters. The encoders permit positive fastening, the company says. Compatible with the EnDat interface, the company says […]
Radial shaft seals for large bearings
Reinforced all-rubber HSS radial shaft seals minimize contaminants and extend service life for large bearings in wind turbine drive trains, say their developers. SKF seals are for installation or uptower replacement during maintenance procedures. Minimal space requirements allow for smaller and lighter bearing housings, potentially reducing turbine weight. The seals integrate Duratemp hydrogenated nitrile rubber, […]
Online monitoring for Lincoln Electric welders
An online monitor lets users get performance data on their Lincoln Electric welders from any computer and almost any mobile device, without the need to install software or hardware. CheckPoint’s alerts and production information are available through the Internet. According to Lincoln Electric, key features include: Accessibility on most any mobile device View live status […]
ISO Fits & Tolerances free on Android
A graph of ISO tolerance classes by bore and shaft is a couple touches away for Android users with the new “ISO Fits & Tolerances” application. Providing results based on the ISO 286 System of Limits and Fits, users enter the nominal diameter needed and select the tolerance classes for bore and shaft. Tolerances are […]
Switch lets micro-grid and power grid cooperate
An autonomous switch provides a connection and islanding for micro-grids to and from the utility grid. Cyberex says the SuperSwitch has unmatched speed between its three phases as it protects critical loads from power quality anomalies. SuperSwitch uses silicon-controlled rectifiers to connect and disconnect the micro grid quickly to and from the utility grid in […]
New medium speed wind power generators from ABB
A turbine manufacturer has a new design for multi-MW offshore wind turbines, the medium speed permanent magnet generator (MS PNG) for the full converter concept. As a semi-integrated medium-speed generator, ABB’s new generator produces up to 8 MW or more. The generator and medium-speed gearbox are joined by a flange in a modular design. Using […]
Keyless shaft locking bushing transmits up to 6,400 ft-lb
The stainless steel ETP Express-R shaft-locking bushings handle torque from 34 to 6,400 ft. lbs. The developer says the bushings work well locking into position gears, pulleys, sprockets, and other components in a machine’s power transmission system. The company says the bushings work well in systems requiring frequent washdowns because they are easily cleaned and […]
Android app for automation and control systems
An industrial automation manufacturer has released aPAC, a mobile application for managing its SNAP PAC System on Android devices. Opto’s app provides real-time control system access and information to workers with wireless phones or tablets. They can use the application to discover SNAP PAC controllers and I/O systems and then view, debug, and fine-tune them, […]
An Illinois windpower conference for the curious and technically inclined
The Illinois Wind Working Group will host their sixth annual Advancing Wind Power in Illinois Conference, July 17-18, at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Normal, IL. IWWG consists of 200 key windpower stakeholders and is administered by Illinois State University’s Center for Renewable Energy. The organization is affiliated with the U.S. Department of […]
Analysis shows U.S. leads global nanotechnology trends
The White House’s 2011 Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future suggests that at least 80% of America’s electricity come from clean energy sources by 2035. To realize this goal, energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and hydropower must be viable. According to one analysis, developments in nanotechnology are critical to this viability and reaching […]
Border Energy Forum to hold 19th meeting
The potential for clean energy in the ten Mexican and American border states is boundless, says the Texas General Land Office, which hosts the 19th annual Border Energy Forum this October in Hermosillo, Sonora. The event helps forge partnerships among people in the growing border region, organizers say, and work on the twin goals of […]
Battery company expands portfolio for grid storage
A producer of nanophosphate, lithium-iron phosphate batteries and systems has announced an expansion of its grid storage equipment portfolio. A123 System’s GSS line now includes high rate and long-duration systems ranging from kilowatt-scale to hundreds of MWs, letting users deploy a system that meets their specific power and energy requirements. The company says the […]
Gear manufacturer wins €80M contract to supply 5 MW wind gears
Challenging offshore wind conditions set high requirements for product design and manufacturing technologies. After about a year of tests, AREVA Wind has found a manufacturer up to task, the company says. Moventas will produce a 5MW wind gearbox for AREVA in an 80-million euro deal. The product is likely headed to offshore locations around Europe, […]
Energy company selects battery for power-on-demand system
A renewable energy company has found a battery for its power-on-demand systems. Arista Power has selected GE’s new Durathon Battery. According to GE, Durathon is 50% smaller and 25% lighter than traditional batteries, so it stores more energy in a smaller space. The company says the batteries last up to 20 years, work in extreme […]
Enclosure certified for hazardous locations
Zonex IECEX and ATEX certified enclosures are available in an expanded line. Zonex hinge-cover and screw-cover enclosures are for applications where “increased safety” protection, as defined by the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC, is acceptable to safely house electrical components in Zone 1 and Zone 2 rated areas. These exclude explosion proof or flame-proof applications. The 316 […]
Wind data and resource maps online for Latin America
A renewable-energy information company released high-resolution wind maps and data for the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and South America to support wind project developments. Wind resource averages and characteristics are available through annual subscriptions to AWS Truepower’s web-based platform, the Wind Site Assessment dashboard. The site provides wind developers with 24/7 access to high-resolution wind […]