XL hybrid bearings from SKF are aimed at wind-turbine generators and engineered to provide insulation against electric currents. Their use can almost eliminate the risk of premature bearing failures due to erosion from electric currents. In addition the units can maximize lubricant effectiveness for long-term performance, even under poor lubrication conditions. These bearings benefit from…
LED obstruction light turns 20W into 2,000 candelas
A manufacturer of LED lighting equipment has taken the wraps off its latest LED-based L-864 Red Medium Intensity Beacon. The lighting from Dialight, Farmingdale, New Jersey, features a compact flash head to reduce wind load on fixed obstructions such as wind turbines, towers, and bridges. Operating at just 20 W, the series offers the lowest…
Tethered tools make up-tower work safer
Gear Keeper retractable tethers and lanyards are precision attachments for tools and instruments weighing up to 25 lbs. Manufactured by California-based Hammerhead Industries, the tethers come in more than 3,000 different configurations that can be used for almost any industrial tool or application. According to Liberty Mutual’s 2009 Safety Index, accidents caused by falling objects…
U of Delaware get state’s first community wind project
A NY state-based community wind company has completed its largest project to date, a 2 MW wind turbine at the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. The project, assisted by Sustainable Energy Developments Inc (SED), in Ontario, NY, created the first community wind turbine in the state and combines university level research,…
Research says offshore wind-energy market will help Europe hit RE targets
A Frost & Sullivan research report titled Investment Opportunities in the Wind Energy Sector in Europe provides an overview of opportunities in geographic locations well-suited for wind energy production, parts of the value chain and other ancillary markets. In this research, the company’s analysts examine onshore and offshore wind energy markets in terms of countries,…
Gridlock
Last year was good for the wind industry as it added almost 40% more capacity. That’s 9,000 more MW and a remarkable feat. But don’t look for a repeat this year or the next unless legislation somehow speeds the painfully slow expansion and improvements to the transmission grid. It soon won’t matter how many turbines…
Pressure transmitters now with variable signal and switch function
In 2007, Danfoss introduced a series of pressure transmitters with a dual output instead of just one analogue output signal. Based on feedback from key customers, the company now offers the MBS1300 and 1350 with a maximum load of 150 mA and an open-collector switch output with a direct connection to the ground. The MBS1300…
Motion sensors for wind turbines
Optipact motion sensors measure velocity by calculating the rate at which markers on a moving surface travel across an optical sensor. With no contact between sensor and the moving surface, dust or surface contaminates will not cause problems. The sensors provide an ideal way to determine rotor speed in wind turbines: Just measure the velocity…
Power cables for wind turbines
The 1250 KCML (1,000 circular mills and the cable’s conductor size) underground cable is available for the wind-power industry. The manufacturer is a major supplier of 34.5 kV TRXLP cable to the wind industry. The 1250, a larger size cable, is fast replacing the smaller 1000 KCML. The size change is needed as turbine generation…
Taller towers reach higher wind speeds
Four and five-in. diameter tilt-up towers are guyed pipe towers, and come with couplers, end fittings, cables, rigging hardware, turnbuckles, ground anchors, and optional pipe sections. All tower components (except pulleys and zinc-plated bolts, nuts, washers) are hot-dip galvanized. The towers come in heights of 64, 85, 106 and 127 ft. The 4-in. tower accomodates…
Stainless steel encoder resists corrosion and abuse
The Sendix 5006 2-in. incremental encoder features a stainless steel housing and Viton seals to resist corrosion and physical abuse in harsh plant environments, such as wind turbines. The encoder handles large fluctuations in temperature, from -40 to 85°C, and is IP67 rated when sealed. The unit comes with ten pulse counts up to 5,000…
Liquid cooled inverters ready for hot jobs
A liquid-cooled inverter provides optimal thermal performance in a compact design for applications unsuitable for air cooling. The manufacturer says the liquid-cooled inverters are ideal for sealed-structure applications such as near shore wind turbines or wind turbines installed in corrosive environments, as well as locations that require sustained operation at elevated ambient temperatures. These liquid-cooled…
Shaft alignment tool
Shaftalign is a high precision, easy-to-use shaft alignment tool with human error-proof functions. Its TFT backlit color display combines operating simplicity with precise measurements and state-of-the-art technology. Intuitive auto-workflow capability (Dimension, Measure, Results) guides users to the needed alignment condition. An “Active Clock” measurement collects the laser coordinates for the corresponding shaft position. Only three…
Rotary encoders for safety oriented positioning
A generation of rotary encoders with IP 64 protection, absolute position-value formation, and functional safety come with a 35-mm diameter housing. Eight new rotary encoders round out Heidenhain’s 1000 Series. The 1000 Series is useful as single-encoder measurement feedback systems in safety-oriented applications. The safety-oriented position encoders provide two independently formed position values via a serial…
Network access in the nacelle
The Uptower Link, or BJ-2184, is a cost-effective, ethernet-over-fiber solution for network access up-tower. The Uptower Link supports original and retrofit installations, and saves time by letting technicians in the nacelle access intranet or internet documents or service record keeping. Other applications include “911” VOIP emergency management system activation. The compact module is adaptable, easy to…
Drills make cleaner holes in composites and aluminum
CoroDrill 854 and CoroDrill 856 drills are for making holes in composite materials and were developed to withstand the harshest carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and aluminum stacks. Producing holes in such materials demands unique geometries for a required tolerance and quality because delamination and splintering are common problems. Combining CFRP with a stacked materials, such…
Lighter high-pressure hose adds reliability to nacelles
New Compact Spiral hose offers unprecedented 5,000 and 6,000-psi capability in a design that delivers measurably more flexible routing, installation, size, weight and service life advantages compared to conventional SAE spiral hose. New 787TC (5,000 psi) and 797TC (6,000 psi) Compact Spiral hose is available in sizes -8, -10, -12 and -16. Both hose lines…
Modular electrical connector ready for many jobs in the nacelle
The Han-Yellock, a completely new connector series, is aesthetically pleasing yet effective in harsh environments. The connector com-bines many new features, most noticeably an integral lock with a patented push button, a departure from the more common levers. The new connector allows for simple installation as well as a way to lock it simply by…
Tiny proximity switch one of the world’s smallest
A micro-proximity switch can be used as a non-contact position sensor in small spaces. The R12575 measures just 0.379-in long and 0.098-in dia., and comes from Standex Electronics in Cincinnati. Typical applications include industrial controls where the equipment design leaves little space for the proximity sensor. The sensor is well suited for applications where the…
12.5 µm resolution on solar manufacturing equipment
A metallization line, used by solar cell manufacturers delivers six-sigma process capability at a resolution of ±12.5 micron. Advanced features to the PV1200 from DEK Solar in the U.K. include handling devices for thin wafers and high-speed machine vision. The DEK Solar team also introduces the PV3000 metallization line. Featuring multiple print heads operating in…