Wind turbines are an integral source of renewable energy for the UK. With thousands spanning the landscape and clustered around the shorelines, wind turbines can’t afford to have much downtime. That’s where protective coatings come into the equation.
Studies show that without adequate surface protection and maintenance, the annual turbine output can fall by 20%. This is where the role of protective coatings in maintaining our wind turbines come in. With such statistics, it is almost unthinkable the amount of energy lost if your wind turbine isn’t correctly serviced.
In this Alphatek blog, we’re going to discuss the importance of maintenance, and the role of protective coatings have in maintaining your wind turbines.
How Will You Know If A Wind Turbine Is Damaged?
A clear sign that a wind turbine is damaged includes erosion indicators, signs of pitting and the general performance decrease of the wind turbine. This is because signs of damage can affect the turbine speed, causing it to slow down. You’ll also notice a sound change in each rotation if stood close by.
A reduction in the speed of a wind turbine is the last thing energy companies want to deal with as slower turbines mean less energy production and less return on investment.
How Do Wind Turbines Get A Service?
The rotor or blades are dropped on site, repaired and re-installed. Some companies offer gearbox remanufacturing and reconditioning to improve housing and gear ratio. Experienced firms can perform a range of up-tower changes.
The maintenance of a wind turbine occurs once or twice a year, whereby all the system is checked. Like most services, minor repairs are dealt with, oils and filtered are checked, updated or changed.
This service takes around 20 working hours.
Finally, it is also important to consider additional repair options, such as fillers, abrasives, and accessories, if the wind-turbine blade has signs of previous damage. These tactics are typically used in concurrence with protective coatings to ensure a successful repair process.
What Is The Maintenance Of A Wind Turbine?
Wind turbines are the largest renewable energy source in Europe, so effective maintenance is essential.
The average wind turbine is expected to operate continuously for around 15 years, but over that time the energy generated by the turbine can be severely impacted by wear and tear from the elements.
Wind turbines are in a variety of areas and conditions. Therefore the solution added to maintain the operation is crucial to be able to withstand such conditions. Protective coatings play a huge role in this, let us explain…
Protective Coatings For Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are located where the wind is expected. This means they’re placed where conditions are extreme. The protective coatings applied to the turbine need to work against the challenges thrown at them.
Wind turbine coatings protect against the erosion and corrosion of the structure due to the harsh environmental conditions they face every day. They increase the wind turbine’s strength, lifespan, reliability, and durability.
Left unmaintained, Corrosion can lead to catastrophic damage of components and also be responsible for product contamination, application failure and possible reduction in lifespan.
Such failures can potentially be prevented or avoided by a combination of correct design, material selection and surface treatment (Corrosion Protection Coatings and anti-corrosion coatings).
For optimum results, the correct choice of Corrosion Protection Coating and substrate pre-treatment are critical.
Metal Spraying And Thermal Spray Coating Specialists
Alphatek is a metal spraying and thermal spray coatings, specialist. We provide complete protective coatings and finishing services to a diverse range of industries.
With a cumulative of 100 years of experience, we have developed our products and services to deliver the best value, most effective thermal spray coatings solution, first time, every time and with a stress-free service that suits everyone.
Our experienced team are committed to reducing downtime, costs, waste and environmental impact, maximising productivity and profitability.
Alphatek: Get In Touch
You can call us directly on 01706 821021, or you can email us at postbox@alphatek.co.uk. We will get back to you within 24 hours of your enquiry.
Alternatively, if you’d like to visit us in person we are located 20 miles north of Manchester in Ramsbottom. We’re open for business as usual just check our opening times before visiting.
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