Wind power is one of the most promising renewable energy sources due to its global availability and the technical progress already made. This is also reflected in the development of wind power capacity, which is seeing double-digit annual growth across the globe. However, cost-efficient processes for manufacturing wind power plants are in greater demand than ever to enable further expansion and for competing with traditional energy resources.
Covestro
Covestro develops innovative machine for the direct infusion of PU rotor blades
For this purpose Covestro provided the leading wind turbine blade manufacturer Goldwind with a special Baulé infusion machine for processing its high performance PU resin. Goldwind and Covestro achieved a major breakthrough with the development and production of a 64.2m-long polyurethane turbine blade.
Philippe Jeantin, Global Head of Machines Division, Business Segment Elastomers at Covestro, said: "Covestro Elastomers developed a tailor-made Baulé machine for the direct infusion of polyurethane rotor blades. We designed this machine to solve various challenges involved in this manufacturing process, e.g. process under vacuum, high-volume casting and speed of resin infusion. This machine is therefore combining a very accurate dosing, a large variable output controlled by in-mould pressure and a real-time data management to ensure a high-quality direct infusion process."
Liu Baofeng, Professor-level Senior Engineer and Head of Windblade Material Development at Goldwind, added: "We are faced with the challenge of producing ever-larger wind blades. We were therefore looking for a reliable partner to provide us with the dispensing equipment which is suitable for processing the PU resin especially developed for larger wind blades. Our manufacture was successful thanks to the machine that Covestro engineered for the production of a 64.2m turbine blade. It will allow us to propel the whole industry to make sustainable and innovating progress towards such large blades."
