Owens Corning, a leading producer of glass fibre reinforcements for composite systems, has introduced an enhanced WindStrand Type 30 roving products platform for weaving fabrics at the JEC Europe show and conferences that has been taking place this week in Paris.

The new product range is designed to deliver productivity and performance benefits to OEMs constructing and operating wind turbines in challenging on and off-shore locations with differing wind speed conditions.

In combination with this redefined wind product platform, Owens Corning has also unveiled its next-generation Ultrablade G3 unidirectional and new Ultrablade Triax fabric solutions for specific wind turbine rotor blade applications.

Reducing energy cost

“The primary objective of turbine OEMs is to reduce total energy production cost to align wind power with other energy sources,” explained Dr Christopher Skinner, Director of Product Platforms for Owens Corning’s Composite Solutions Business.

“To help achieve a reduction in the cost of energy, future wind turbines need to be manufactured as economically as possible while generating as much power as possible. Our new range of WindStrand and Ultrablade products deliver enhanced performance to address these needs.”

The new product range comprises WindStrand 2000, WindStrand 3000, and WindStrand4000 Type 30 rovings all of which are said to provide high weaving efficiencies for fabrics with optimised performance at 90°(T). Each product is designed to perform at differing higher fibre volume fraction levels.

Excellent performance

The new Ultrablade G3 unidirectional (UD) fabric offers a high modulus and excellent 90° (T) performance, and up to 20% greater resistance to long-term fatigue loads, the company reports.

 Its architecture can be customised to specific end-use applications to meet market requirements for longer blades both on-shore and off-shore, and in low-wind areas. It can also help reduce overall blade mass by up to 5%. According to the manufacturer, combined with an operating FVF level of more than 5%, Ultrablade G3 UD fabric can help increase blade lengths by up to 20% for turbines operating in low-wind, on-shore areas.

“Our new WindStrand and Ultrablade offerings provide weight-saving, tailored solutions that are helping designers and engineers conceive blades that are lighter and longer. And they deliver improved aerodynamic performance with resistance to higher, long-term fatigue loads,” Dr Skinner said. “These features enable the production of wind turbines that increase power yield and reduce the cost of energy.”

www.owenscorning.com