Gearbox manufacturer to quick-change artist

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Excerpt: A wind-turbine gearbox manufacturer has expanded its field-service portfolio to include the inspection and repair of the entire helical side of the gearbox up-tower. Moventas General Manager Steve Casey says its entire process can be performed in just three days, and the company (www.moventas.co …

Researchers slowly lift fog off longer-term wind forecasts

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Excerpt: Even in the 21st century, wind forecasts of a few hours are difficult. The inscrutable nature of wind forecasting was highlighted in a recent study by AWS Truepower and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Their project, Windsense, was focused on improving wind-power-generation forecasts by d …

Clever MW-sized generator uses printed circuit-board stator and PM-rotor

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Excerpt: A Colorado-based company claims its axial gap, permanent magnet, direct-drive generator can produce the same torque with less than half the mass of comparably rated iron-core, direct-drive versions. The proprietary air-core stator, developed by Boulder Wind Power (boulderwindpower.com), contains …

Software helps wind farms run at peak efficiency

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Excerpt: Renewable-energy consultancy Natural Power announced the release of WindManager – a wind-farm portfolio, information system that increases profitability of wind farm operations. WindManager is a turbine-independent system based on latest international standards such as IEC 61400-25 and RDS-PP …

Spring manufacturer expands it product line with more metric

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Excerpt: The company has expanded its existing metric compression and extension products with springs that meet the physical parameters of the European Compression Standard (DIN 2098) and the European Extension Standard (DIN 2097).  These additions are available in either zinc plated music wire or passi …

Series production soon for “most efficient” 2.4 MW turbine

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Excerpt:   Turbine manufacturer Nordex says it has passed a major milestone towards the series production of the N117/2400 onshore turbine:  On 16 December 2011, it installed the first version of this model at the “Stadum” citizens’ wind farm in Schleswig-Holstein. With a 117-m rotor diame …

60% of U.S. businesses: Higher cost power OK to reduce imported oil

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Excerpt:   Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, and its impact on oil prices, 44% of global businesses would now support increased government investment in renewable and alternative energy, according to the latest research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR). In th …

More electric vehicles coming: a report (and good for wind power)

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Excerpt: A report covers the technical and market trends for industrial and commercial vehicles, hybrid and pure electric. The $3,995 report tells of activities at a host of manufacturers for the vehicles and their components, also with roadmaps for future technological developments. Those selling component …

These light pipes are water resistant

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Excerpt: A designer and manufacturer of optoelectronics now offers waterproof light pipes. The LED light pipes, which meet IP68 specifications, come in a wide range of options and can be built into a wide range of ruggedized, outdoor, shipboard, and other applications. They are said to work well where th …

Lanyards keeps expensive instruments and tools safe

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Excerpt: Accidentally dropping or misplacing an expensive hand-held instrument or tool, particularly when working aloft, is a costly and potentially dangerous event that can be avoided. Aside from the inconvenience and lost down time spent retrieving or searching for the dropped object, delicate instrume …