CeRam-Kote Windpower Industry Applications
Wind Generators
Wind power is the energy source of the future. By the year 2005, Denmark expects to receive 50% of its energy from offshore wind power. Two thousand wind generators will be installed in Northern Germany in the next two years.
Wind generators are subjected to harsh atmospheric and corrosive conditions in both onshore and offshore locations. The 1.5 megawatt, 75 meter (246 ft.) high wind generator towers are built for a lifespan of 20 years of onshore service while offshore generators will last 30 years. Protective coatings used are required to provide the same inservice life because coating maintenance is not practical after these massive generators are placed in service.
CeRam-Kote 54® has been providing superior abrasion and corrosion protection to offshore structures. Life cycle studies of offshore platform structures and equipment substantiate CeRam-Kote 54®’s ability to last the wind generator’s offshore life expectancy.
Coatings used must also withstand the harsh mechanical abuse of heavy equipment during manufacturing, transport and assembly. The heavy loading of ceramics in CeRam-Kote 54® provides a tough, durable shell that protects against abrasion and abuse. After the complex and potentially damaging assembly process, a recently installed frame and propeller hub coated with CeRam-Kote 54® sustained no mechanical damage, the customer reported. However, CeRam-Kote 54® can be easily touched up, if necessary.
CeRam-Kote 54® has been selected for use over a combined thermal spray/epoxy system due to its superior physical and mechanical properties, and speed of application. The applicator reported considerable time and labor savings by using CeRam-Kote 54® which reduced coating of a frame from 4 days to 1 day. The exponential expansion of wind power as a viable energy source in Europe makes the time and labor savings of using CeRam-Kote 54® as the coating of choice, significant.
A major wind generator manufacturer in Germany has recently specified CeRam-Kote 54® for all their on and offshore protection of metallic subtrates.
