Power plant products |
Rolls-Royce and cellcentric offer fuel cell breakthrough
Rolls-Royce and cellcentric, a joint venture company set up by Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group AB, are taking the next step in their strategic co-operation for the deployment of cellcentric hydrogen fuel cell modules. Rolls- Royce, through its Power Systems business unit, is to develop complete hydrogen fuel cell solutions based on cellcentric’s fuel cell modules. This will enable CO2
-free, climate-
neutral generation of emergency power for data centres, a huge business area for Rolls-Royce which is among the world’s top three suppliers. Rolls-Royce and cellcentric are convinced that the technology – and time – are right for successfully launching commercial fuel cell applications for the mass market.
Each fuel cell module will deliver a net power output of around 150 kW and can be connected as multi-cell power plants with outputs in the megawatt range, capable of providing back- up power for large data centres. Rolls-Royce commissioned a fuel cell demonstrator in 2021 and plans to bring a further demonstrator plant on line in 2022, based on modules providing approximately 100 kW each. The first pilot plants with customers will be installed in 2023, with Rolls-Royce launching standard production fuel cell systems in 2025.
“Electrical generators based on fuel cells represent the next leap forward in the energy transition, both for us and our customers,” said Andreas Schell, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power
New partnership for bolt load measurement
UK-based bolt tensioning specialist TensionPro has teamed up with Sedwell Ltd to promote and develop new applications for the InterBolt remote bolt load monitoring technology and software systems.
Sedwell Ltd, based in Bury St Edmunds in the UK, has developed an integrated bolt load monitoring system. The technology provides real-time load measurements for proof of bolt loads during installation and long-term monitoring. InterBolt is a modified bolt with an innovative miniature embedded sensing element which includes a 15 year battery and long-range wireless communications. The sensing element is ‘embedded’ into the bolt or threaded stud itself – see diagram. It measures the stretching of the bolt under tension and sends the resulting data on bolt load in real time wirelessly via an Industrial Internet of Things
(IIoT) network. This information can then be accessed via a cloud platform. The Interbolt also has LED indicators to allow operators to see at a glance whether the bolt load is correct - green, amber and red - and quickly identify any fastening fault.
TensionPro MD Dave Metzger commented: “We have a global customer base that will benefit from the implementation of smarter bolting technology such as this. With [it] we can manage the long-term integrity of bolts whilst in service. This fits well with our [own] bolt tensioning solutions for tightening bolts. The InterBolt software system [with our] tensioner control system gives customers … full data control of the bolt tightening process. With the Sedwell team we have a solutions-based approach that will add real benefit to our customers in many market sectors, not least our
Systems. “That’s why we’re investing a three- digit million amount in R&D over the next few years and we hope that this strong commitment will encourage governments and politicians to promote and support this pioneering, extremely climate-friendly, technology.“ Development of CO2
-free solutions using hydrogen technology is taking place at Rolls-Royce Power Systems in its new ‘Power Lab’ division.
Partnership with cellcentric offers Rolls-Royce the opportunity of using fuel cell modules produced by a leading supplier with long-standing experience. Its quick deployment of a large volume of fuel cells has in turn enabled cellcentric to ramp up its series production, while preparation for on- highway use is still in progress.
growing involvement with offshore wind”. Sedwell MD Dr Jack Bryan Hughleigh commented: “The team at TensionPro have the technical and commercial experience to help us deliver our solutions to a wider customer base … adding much to the commercial development of our products, as we look to discover new markets and applications.”
New solutions for WTG blade access
Eptune Engineering has developed a series of innovations to significantly improve WTG blade access and repair in harsh weather conditions Wind turbine blades are costly components to maintain. Inspection and maintenance are commonly made via rope harness or suspended aluminium platforms that allow access to the wind blades. These activities are highly dependent on good weather conditions and are typically performed during summertime, resulting in a period that covers only 35% to 50% days per year. This weather limitation increases maintenance costs, due to standby time and seasonality. All the operational costs to run the blade repair activity – access platforms, training,
insurance, overheads, etc – have to be spread among a reduced number of hours. Besides this maintenance cost impact, this reality of weather dependence to perform repairs also creates large economic losses in the energy production, since wind tower can be inoperative for days or weeks. Eptune Engineering has designed innovative solutions that can address this issue. They fall
into three categories: ● A closed suspended platform creating a barrier to the exterior, with its own environment;
● A sealing system, that isolates the segment of the blade to be repaired, preventing the contamination of this zone from external effects: ● A system that guarantees the stability of the
40 | January/February 2022|
www.modernpowersystems.com
platform during raising or lowering. These innovations are intended to allow maintenance to be carried out in all weathers, more safely and comfortably, and with increased effectiveness and quality of any repair. All were developed in a two-year project, called Easy Platform, that is being developed in conjunction with OnRope and Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (ISQ). OnRope is a blade maintenance provider, acting like an end user, and providing input about general requirements and the most necessary improvements and faults that are experienced with the equipment that exists in the market. Easy Platform has been developed with the financial support of European Union.
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