Wind industry
Systems expertise for wind turbines
Systematically. Everything from a single source.
Humans have always used wind power: Whether it was to power sawmills or mills, to pump water from wells or to sail the seven seas. Nowadays, wind power is mostly used as an environmentally friendly method to generate electricity. During its service life, a wind turbine can generate 70 times more energy than is required for manufacturing, using and disposing of it. The way turbines are currently manufactured makes it extremely difficult to produce them more cost-effectively. That means new and innovative turbine solutions are needed.The system concept has to be continued constructively.
For its customers in the wind power sector, FreiLacke is keeping coating systems for individual components – from the foundation to the rotor blades – in stock. FreiLacke is extending this system concept far beyond coatings and is also advising manufacturers on the design and construction of individual components. As a leading system coatings supplier, FreiLacke can take advantage of its extensive raw materials competence and develop customer-specific application solutions.
Application example Wind industry
Foundation
1 of 6
Nacelle
2 of 6
Hub & generator
3 of 6Rotor blade & blade tip
4 of 6Tower
5 of 6
Blade tip
6 of 6
Wind and weather resistance
Strong wind, strong protection: Our system coating solutions for wind turbines
The foundation and the (concrete) tower Quality – from the base to the tip
In order to achieve an optimal foundation and concrete tower surfaces that are resistant against a wide range of weather conditions, we offer combinations of 2C epoxy resin primers and 2C UHS top coats. In addition, 2C filler materials are available for preparing the concrete surfaces. All systems are nearly VOC-free and feature a large application window and reproducible coating results. As a result of the outstanding concrete penetration behaviour of the primer, an excellent adhesive bond can be ensured. In addition, compatibility with newly produced concrete segments and filling compounds can be achieved.
Wind and weather resistance
Different customer requirements can be met thanks to the use of the 2C Ultra-High-Solid top coat. The low-odour coating material can be applied effortlessly using a spraying process or a roller.
The system features an excellent initial water resistance and, after just a short time, offers a top mechanical resistance, which means that the time in production halls is reduced. As a result of the high alkaline resistance, the surface quality is retained even when it comes into contact with concrete slurries. Elastic variants are also available that can be used in case of increased crack-bridging requirements.
The nacelle – Exterior as well as interior
Inexpensive GRP components, which are manufactured as claddings using modular construction:
These prefabricated components can be assembled on site or in the factory. The integration of installations such as weather stations is possible. Generally, the composite components consist of glass fibres, a matrix resin as well as a coloured gelcoat layer. Usually, styrene GRP systems are used.
The base materials are styrene-solved, unsaturated polyester resins. These have been used successfully for decades.
With regard to emission-reducing coating materials, PU/PUR as well as other innovative systems are used, which allows higher visual standards to be achieved.
The hub and the generator – The centre
The area at the hub and the generator has a wide range of qualitative and process-related requirements.
For these coating tasks, we offer sophisticated wet and powder coating systems that can be used to optimise the respective processes.
Clean energy starts with the selection of environmentally friendly coating systems. Depending on the requirement, single or multi-layer systems with our water-thinnable coating systems can be used.
For all applications that require the use of organic solvents, our proven high-solid and ultra-high-solid coating systems with a solids content of up to 90% are available. The primers and top coats can be adapted individually to the requirements and coating processes.
Many components are especially well-suited for coating processes using powder coatings. Top anti-corrosion results can be achieved with a two-layer coating consisting of primer and top coating.
In the case of large or heavy components, these have to be baked in layer-by-layer with conventional powder coatings. In order to reduce the energy demand for this system, we have developed the “powder-in-powder” technology. This technology excels because the powder top coating can be applied directly onto the powder primer without using an extra step to first bake it in. As a result, only a single baking process is required, which saves energy and valuable production time.
Regardless of the number of different coating systems, FreiLacke ensures an optimal optical result while meeting the specifications.
By coordinating the different coating formulations, optical aspects, such as colour shade, gloss and, where required, the surface structure of all parts assembled next to each other, also match very well.
The rotor blade and the blade tip – When things have to go round and round
FreiLacke is the leading system coating supplier in targeted industry groups. Our strength lies in the development of application solutions. For the coating of rotor blades, this means that all coating materials, from the filler and pore filler to primers, gelcoats, top coats and erosion protection materials (LEP systems) are available.
All activities focus on the customer-specific requirements as well as the individual regulatory and climate-protection standards across the globe. That is why environmentally friendly high-solid and water-based top coating systems are available. This portfolio is complemented by VOC-reduced or VOC-free fillers, pore fillers and gelcoat materials.
Since the rain erosion resistance is one of the main requirements, we spend a lot of our developmental efforts on this area. The erosion protection values achieved by FreiLacke, which have already been tested and positively evaluated by different institutes (as well as the helicopter test processes and the water jet process), are not just the result of a very good LEP system but are also due to the targeted coordination of the individual coating materials.
In order to guarantee the performance of coating systems even during the ongoing operation of the wind turbine, tests such as rain erosion tests are conducted – both without stresses as well as following cyclical stresses (UV, climate change and salt water stresses). Some of these development processes were created in cooperation between FreiLacke and different testing institutes and bodies in the form of industry projects.
Special features of the LEP system: During the development of LEP, a special emphasis was placed on ensuring that it features a large application window and does not react to changing ambient conditions during processing. An easy application forms the basis for the developments. In the end, taking into account all of these requirements, a system was developed that does significantly better in the rain erosion test than currently available LEP systems. It is being optimised all the time in order to improve its performance even further.
A new path toward composite production
Blazing new trails
FreiLacke has worked extensively on preserving resources and, as a result, optimally combines the various disciplines of the production of composites. Composites are multi-component mixtures consisting of different materials. The optimal coordination of adjacent components is not only a focal point of the coating of concrete towers, but also the production of rotor blades. At FreiLacke, all coating systems can be found under a single roof and are supplemented by innovative powder-resin systems.
Which products are used? The consistent implementation of the system approach is also reflected in the manufacture of composite components, such as rotor blades. The unique CM powder-resin systems allow new production processes for small and medium-sized rotor blades that practically operate independently of climate conditions.
The systems do not require any solvents and therefore form a sustainable and health-friendly basis for processing. The powder-resin systems are matched to the other coating systems and offer optimal adhesion. The systems can be combined efficiently which allows for a sharp reduction of time-consuming process steps. Sustainability is very important to us, not only with regard to the environment but also our products and employees.
Due to our environmentally friendly products, we help protect the environment not only during our production process but also when recycling wind turbines. This also benefits employees in the production department who work directly with the products.
Brochure Wind industry
Contact us – we are there for you!
Do you need an individual solution for your coating? If so, get in touch with our experts. We will be happy to advise you about the perfect solution for your requirements. Your direct point of contact.
Your direct contact
Frank Berger
Innovation / Internationale Geschäftsentwicklung
International Business Development
| +49 151 171 17 908 | |
| f.berger@freilacke.de |
Do you have general questions?
We look forward to hearing from you.
