DSM, 3B fiberglass, Siemens Wind Power and DTU Wind Energy have proposed a new composite system for making wind turbine blades, featuring easy blade manufacturing, low weight, high stiffness, and excellent resistance to fatigue. This material system is being evaluated by Siemens Wind Power for its next generation wind turbine blades.
The new system is based on DSM’s 40% bio based, styrene free, cobalt free resin system. The company say that the use of this resin brings faster resin infusion and requires only limited post-cure. The system also incorporates 3B’s glass rovings. Through an optimised sizing applied on the glass filaments an excellent fibre/ resin interaction is obtained, resulting in improved composite properties for a long-lasting blade operation.
The new system has received the 2014 Innovation Award from JEC in the Sustainability category, ,” explains Karsten Schibsbye, Manager Next Generation Blade Project, Siemens Wind Power.
For Siemens the new composite system provides many benefits, including a major reduction in blade manufacturing cost and an increased process output