RENEWABLE ENERGY
for injection cartridges or specialist equipment.
Ease of application is important,
however it needs to be backed up by material performance. ASTM G73 is the most commonly used test method to assess performance and determine a material’s ability to withstand rain erosion. Tis test involves samples of the coating being rotated at high velocity through a series of water droplets impacting the sample. Tip speeds in the region of 80m/s are common in many current wind turbine designs. Belzona 1341 has undergone testing to this standard and showed little to no damage to the coating at tip speeds of up to 143m/s. In comparison, coating B showed signs of significant degradation through the length of the sample.
DIG DEEPER THAN THE DATASHEETS In summary, wind power is an ever expanding and growing industry. One
of the biggest drivers of cost is the operations and maintenance of the turbines once they are in the field generating electricity. Leading edge erosion, caused by impact
from rain droplets is one of the key issues facing the sector. Tere are a variety of polymeric coatings available for leading edge protection, however the issue of temperature is often
overlooked. All materials have a
recommended minimum application temperature, which often does not account for the low temperatures experienced in many wind farm installations. Materials such as those that Belzona Polymerics provides are designed for ease of application and effective curing at lower temperatures. Tis not only gives a larger window of application but also makes it easier for the technician to apply in the field ensuring the quoted performance is achieved.
Suspended platforms are used to access the blades
A STATESIDE SOLUTION A
t a wind farm near Des Moines in Iowa, USA some of the turbines’ blades were experiencing leading edge damage. The project manager in charge of
the farm wanted a long-term LEP solution to repair and preserve the blades. Downtime was a critical factor and
the unpredictable October weather meant that an easy-to-apply system was essential. Consequently, Belzona 1341 was chosen because of its positive results in internal Belzona testing (ASTM G73 & G76). The application took place at the end
of October 2017. To access the blades, a suspended platform system was used. Initially, the pitted substrate was resurfaced with a filler product to restore the correct dimensions of the blade. Then, upon curing, this surface was sanded and cleaned before a thick coat of Belzona 1341 was applied. The project manager was highly impressed
Belzona 1341 was chosen for a US turbine pro
with how easy and user-friendly the application was. Another benefit of the solution was the fact that in came in 500g module packaging. This made measuring and mixing, whilst on a suspended platform, practical and easy. It was also the perfect amount for necessary coverage of the blades. As for the performance of the coating, to date it is performing perfectly, with official test data being collected over the next few months.
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