By Paul J. Heney, Editorial Director
Those wind turbines you see on the hillside may seem like they are turning at a lazy 15 rpm, but their blade tip speeds could be exceeding 160 mph. Some blade tip speeds can even reach an astonishing 250 mph. Being exposed to the elements—rain, hail, and salt spray—can wreak havoc on blades traveling at these speeds and lead to erosion of the leading edge. Over time, blades suffer pitting, gouging, and delamination, and this can compromise a blade’s aerodynamic performance, reduce a turbine’s annual energy production (AEP) up to 20%, and eventually cause downtime. To protect the blade, 3M developed a tape and coating that helps prevent leading edge erosion. The company says coupling these blade repair materials with protection practices increase AEP, while reducing downtime and costs.
3M Wind Protection Tapes are constructed from a tough, abrasion, and puncture-resistant polyurethane elastomer, to better resist the elements.
3M says its Wind Protection Tapes are intended to resist erosion, puncture, tearing, and weathering and are adapted from the technology developed to protect helicopter blades and aircraft radomes. The tapes are constructed from tough, abrasion-resistant polyurethane elastomers, which shield leading edges and surfaces from pitting, wear, and water ingression.
“The tapes conform to complex shapes and are UV stable and solvent-free,” said Christian Claus, global business manager, 3M Renewable Energy. “They require no special application tools and are easily applied either in the factory or in the field by rope or platform access. When applied to the leading edge of a wind turbine blade, the tapes help maintain turbine efficiency, by reducing downtime and maintenance. What’s more, the tapes also extend the useful life of a blade, even in the harshest environments.”
The Wind Blade Protection Coating helps protect the leading edge of a wind turbine blade from minor damage, such as sand and rain erosion. The two-component polyurethane coating provides erosion protection in a single layer, and can be applied using a brush. Its fast curing means it can be applied in the factory, helping manufacturers produce blades that are protected against erosion from the first day of service.
Filed Under: Green engineering • renewable energy • sustainability, Materials • advanced
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