UTC Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ
Monday 23 November
Wind turbines blades become damaged in service, due to leading edge erosion, lightning strikes, contamination and fatigue. If left, this may progress to cause aerodynamic losses that reduce power output and can ultimately lead to structural failure.
There are proven ways to repair blade damage on onshore turbines, but, until last year, no one had successfully repaired offshore blades in situ using these methods.
Rotos 360 Ltd, in a project supported by Innovate UK, demonstrated that a suspended access platform can be deployed from the deck of a service vessel. Combined with rapid UV cure resin systems and other innovations such as 24-hour working, and using a walk-to-work Offshore Support Accommodation vessel, they have been able to increase productivity and reduce the cost of blade maintenance.
In this talk, we will give you a quick tour of an offshore wind turbine, describe the problems of leading edge erosion and other damage, demonstrate how it can be fixed, show what it is like to work at heights in an offshore environment, and note how engineering is reducing the cost of electricity from offshore wind.
Date: Monday 23 November 2015
Time: Refreshments served from 18.30. Talk starts at 19.00. Finishes around 20.30 following discussion.
Venue: UTC Cambridge, Robinson Way (off Long Road), Cambridge, CB2 0SZ. University Technical College (UTC Cambridge), near Addenbrookes..