The situation: Customized cooling systems require application-specific parts. Our Apple Rubber project engineers were called upon to work with Nissens to develop and produce a special rubber mount using 60 shore A durometer EPDM rubber that allowed the cooling system within the turbine to adapt to its environment.
(Product reference: http://nissens.com/Customer/OEM+-+Industrial+Applications/Product+range/wet_charge_air_coolers.htm )
Nissens and Apple Rubber worked together to develop a part for a turbine like this one that ultimately offered high quality, excellent sealing abilities, good chemical resistance and dampening properties, and a longer life of the completed product.
The problem: Because of shock and vibration within the cooler, a custom-engineered rubber mount had to let the cooling system expand within its frame — but the part needed to expand without causing premature failure from the vibration.
The solution: The part was placed between the cooler and the external framework to absorb the shock. While protecting the cooler against vibration, the rubber part lets the cooler grow 0.188 in. within the frame. It’s just one small part in a complicated system — but crucially important to the success of the overall application.
This is a different path from Apple Rubber’s norm of small O-Rings, because it is a larger piece and a unique design fit to serve the custom transfer application.
“Our products are designed per customer specification, every time,” says Alan Steighner, general manager of North America NCS Operations. “You can’t get our part out of a catalog— so when Apple Rubber was willing to provide a unique part for this application, it was custom engineered. It wasn’t off the shelf.”
Nissens is somewhat nontraditional because it uses components to build a complete engineered design. They aim to supply complete turnkey packages for their customers.
“We’re not married to one market,” Steighner says. “Our advantage is that we cross many different markets. Because of this, we need suppliers like Apple Rubber that go further than standard products.”
Nissens and Apple Rubber worked together to develop a part that ultimately offered high quality, excellent sealing abilities, good chemical resistance and dampening properties, and a longer life of the completed product.
“You have more of an advantage with Apple Rubber, because you have quality parts and engineering support around the clock” Steighner says. “We’ve been working together since 2002 and Apple Rubber is willing to do a little extra to meet our specifications.”
Providing to cooling solutions for Nissens’ wind turbines is just one component of this project. The other half is contributing to a growing global industry.
The dimensions of wind turbines have changed considerably over the past few decades. Working in any specialized industry requires close attention to the market and relevant technological advancements. As our customers respond to emerging needs of their specific fields, we aim to keep pace and develop the right solutions with less of an environmental impact.
Filed Under: News, O&M
