Posted to News on 26th Sep 2024, 10:00
Polymeric leading edge protection extends lifespan of 42 wind turbine blades
At an onshore Windfarm in Denmark, 42 wind turbine blades were exhibiting signs of severe erosion on the leading edges. Previously, the company had used pre-formed shells that were bonded onto the substrate to provide leading edge protection. However, this process proved to be extremely time-consuming and expensive, so the company turned to Belzona for an alternative.
Based on test results, the ease of application as well as the high-quality finish that can be achieved, the customer decided to repair and protect the leading edges with a combination of Belzona 5711 and Belzona 5721.
The thixotropic paste, Belzona 5711, is specially designed to be applied in conjunction with the Belzona 5721 protective coating. This solvent-free LEP system is formulated for the in-situ repair and rebuilding of leading edge erosion and impact damage on wind turbine blades.
Commenting on the application process, Morten Sivertsen, General Manager at AESSEAL Danmark said: "Surface preparation was carried out on each of the 42 blades, followed by the direct application of 90 kg of Belzona 5711 from self-mixing cartridges onto the blade.
"The repair area was then contoured using a piece of Belzona mixing board. Once cured, a visual inspection was conducted to ensure the application's readiness for overcoating with 144 kg of Belzona 5721. Using a short-bristled brush, this system was then applied to the leading edge and left to cure for 30-60 minutes. With three rope access technicians carrying out the applications, on average, 6-9 turbine blades were completed each day."
As the polymeric systems were applied in situ without the need for specialist tools or equipment, this ensured that a fast and seamless application was carried out. Thus, this enabled the customer to make considerable financial savings as it mitigated the profit loss that can be incurred through lengthy periods of downtime.
The scaling up of the wind power industry is absolutely critical in order to support the transition to renewable energy, in keeping with the net zero by 2050 pathway. By safeguarding key assets within this industry through the use of polymeric technology, asset owners can successfully bypass the environmental and financial costs associated with asset replacement. Therefore, it could be argued that polymeric technology plays an intrinsic role in supporting this energy transition.
