Research center for carbon fiber blades
March 28, 2010 by Paul Dvorak
Filed under Materials, Turbine Blades
Low-cost carbon fiber for industrial applications, including advanced wind turbine blades, is the goal for an expanding chemical company. Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., says it will expand its renewable and alternative energy reach in the state thanks to more than $108 million in business tax credits and grants. In addition, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority is expected to approve $103 million in tax credits and incentives for Dow’s Powerhouse Solar Shingle project and Kokam advanced battery manufacturing facility.
A $20 million carbon-fiber project will create a center focused on developing low-cost carbon fiber for use in the production of advanced wind turbine blades and in transportation applications. The company is partnering with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop the material over about three years, said Steve Bakkal, the Wind Energy Sector Development director for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The project will be sited in one of Dow’s existing facilities. And while it won’t immediately create jobs, it will have job creation potential later, drawing wind turbine blade manufacturers and other companies who can use the carbon fiber to the Great Lakes Bay Region, he said.
Windpower Engineering Editor Paul Dvorak is an experienced mechanical engineer. Paul has seven years of hands on mechanical engineering experience and 23 years of technical writing. Paul is constantly in correspondence with wind turbine manufacturers and wind power researchers. Thanks to this correspondence, he is able to write about wind engineering topics before any other editor in the wind space.
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would like some info on use of carbon fiber on blades for wind generators I’m designing for residential and commercial applications. I have a few unique designs in which I’m working on for the future, and want to provide the strongest, lightest weight product to weight ratio I can produce for this product.
I’m looking for the best material to use, with the strongest weight to size, ratio, and price for possible future sales.
Any cost comparisons you can give me for material and resins would be much appreciated.
Chris L. Skelton
818-335-8334 or e-mail @ Skeltonplumbing@sbcglobal.net