technology report 04

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Energy & Environment Blowing in the Wind Heraeus technology makes wind power profitable By the year 2020, it is planned that the proportion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources should have increased to at least 35 percent in Germany alone. Wind power therefore has a central role to play in the energy mix of the future. There is a long tradition of using the wind as a source of power. Historically, the grand old windmills utilized the kinetic energy of the wind to grind corn into flour. Modern windmills are now known as wind turbines, and convert wind power into electrical current. This process is also aided by sliding contact systems and infrared heat from Heraeus. © zentilia – Fotolia.com 34 technology report Issue 4 | 2013
Modern wind turbines are up to 130 meters tall, have rotor blades with a diameter up to 154 meters, and are supplying ever increasing numbers of households worldwide with electricity. When it comes to power generation from renewable sources, wind power takes first place in Germany, making up around 36 percent. The “German” wind turbines were producing almost 50 billion kilowatt hours of electricity by the end of 2011 (source: DEWI/BWE/VDMA). And the potential of wind power is still far from exhausted. Replacing older systems with newer, high-performance versions (“repowering”) and harnessing wind power at sea (“offshore”) are two prospects for further expansion. In order to obtain this power in an environmentally friendly manner, however, each wind turbine requires a high degree of precision and technological expertise. With sliding contact systems and infrared heat, Heraeus helps to convert wind efficiently into electrical power. Infrared emitters for stable rotor blades With their rotor blades high in the air, wind power plants are continuously exposed to high mechanical loads. All parts must be manufactured and joined together in accordance with strict quality standards. Here, infrared emitters provide assistance in heating. Bolts, rivets and other elements are frequently bonded with an adhesive that must be hardened using heat. Infrared radiation transmits high levels of heat within short periods, allowing the adhesive to cure considerably faster than can be achieved with hot air. In addition, the infrared emitters can be shaped to allow them to direct the heat precisely at the rivet, bolt or joint. © picsxl – Fotolia.com 2008 50 billion 40 billion kWh 2011 kWh Renewable energy is becoming ever more important for electricity supplies. These figures are valid for Germany (source: DEWI/BWE/VDMA). surfaces and precious metal wires from Heraeus Materials Technology are used in wind turbine components that transmit e.g. electrical power for the pitch control systems and sensor signals. In the interior of the plant, the motion of the rotor drives a generator, thus producing electrical current. In order to convert the wind into energy as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to measure wind direction and speed continuously, and to align the rotor blades optimally in the wind. The power supply for the rotor blade drive system and the transmission of the measurement signals are achieved by a slip ring assembly. In these assemblies, precisely manufactured contact systems made from precious metals ensure the interference-free transmission of signals, even under rough environmental conditions, e.g. on the open sea. They ultimately contribute to supplying us with environmentally friendly energy. Dr. Marie-Luise Bopp, Guido Matthes Slip ring assemblies … Rotor blades are the part of a wind turbine exposed to the greatest loads. During the manufacture and repair of rotor blades, fiberglass mats soaked in epoxy resin are applied to areas subjected to particularly high stress, and are then cured using heat. Today, this is still largely achieved with the aid of heat pads or hot air. “Infrared heat is superior here,” insists Volker Reith from the Business Development Team at Heraeus Noblelight. “It is transmitted without contact and much faster than with conventional heat sources. The heat source cannot get stuck to the resin, and above all, infrared heating processes are precise and reproducible.” … are rotating devices for transmitting power which have contact systems made from precious metals or with precious metal coatings. Heraeus produces sliding contact systems made from wires or from punched springs manufactured from abraison-resistant gold or palladium alloys. In addition to solid designs, roll-plated, galvanized or welded composite materials are used. Typical designs include cylindrical and flat transmission systems with circuit boards. Besides signal currents, some applications also transmit load currents of up to 400 amperes. Sliding contact systems – inconspicuous, but precise The principle behind wind power plants is remarkably simple. To generate electricity, they use the drive power produced by the wind as it flows past the rotor blades. The rotors turn in the wind, thus absorbing its energy. This sets the rotor in motion around its horizontal axis, releasing mechanical energy. Finally, a generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity. Sliding contact Do you have any further questions? Volker Reith Heraeus Noblelight Industrial Process Technology Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 7 63801 Kleinostheim Phone: +49(0)6181.35-8469 volker.reith@heraeus.com www.heraeus-noblelight.com Rolf Paulsen Heraeus Materials Technology GmbH & Co. KG Heraeusstr. 12-14 63450 Hanau Phone: +49(0)6181.35-5478 rolf.paulsen@heraeus.com www.heraeus-materials- Rolf Paulsen technology.com technology report Issue 4 | 2013 35
Page 1 and 2: technology report Heraeus Technolog
Page 3 and 4: Contents technology report Heraeus
Page 5 and 6: Materials Dr. Richard Walter von He
Page 7 and 8: Large Hadron Collider The “LHC Be
Page 9 and 10: Schematic drawing of a fiber laser
Page 11 and 12: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT Silver for mak
Page 13 and 14: Functional principle of a silicon-b
Page 15 and 16: A long tradition of platinum sensor
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Page 21 and 22: Exceptional properties and applicat
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Page 27 and 28: Biomaterials and MEDICAL products H
Page 29 and 30: 2010 Danyang/CN 2012 Singapore/SG D
Page 31 and 32: Research & Development Materials ne
Page 33: Research & Development SEM microgra
Page 37 and 38: Microorganisms brought in from fore
Page 39 and 40: Exhaust catalytic converters The ca
Page 41 and 42: Research & Development Dr. Ekaterin
Page 43 and 44: Product innovation - 2nd place: Ant
Page 45 and 46: The timeline shows the respective f
Page 47 and 48: Research & Development Heraeus offe
Page 49 and 50: The Company Heraeus, the precious m

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