Photoblog: AWEA Windpower 2014, Day Two

Artists from Berlin-based Klebebande created windpower-inspired tape art at the Siemens booth yesterday and today, attracting many admirers. According to Siemens, the tape art helps demonstrate the company’s “strong bond” to American wind power.

Georgia-based ofs introduced these SC crimp and cleave connectors for easy field termination of the company’s GiHCS optical fiber cable. ofs is a world leader in specialty fiber optic solutions for harsh environments.

Eickhoff displayed this planetary gear with custom-made bearings. The Pennsylvania-based company manufactures, repairs and rebuilds gearboxes. They also spend a lot of time during tradeshows wiping fingerprints from this gear, says the company’s Greg Pawluk.

HELUKABEL displayed these torsion rated aluminum and copper control and power cables. These cables are rated 1 and 2 kV WTTC and for temperatures between -40°C and 90°C. The cables are also UL-CSA FT4 tray rated.

Renewable NRG displayed the Wind Iris, which measures the horizontal wind speed and direction from 40m to 400m upwind of a turbine. Real time and average data can then be transferred automatically or stored in a data logger.

Rad Torque Systems displayed its E-Rad Blu electronic torque gun with Bluetooth-enabled calibration and data collection. The E-Rad Blu can auto-calibrate with the company’s patented smart socket, which has a digital readout.

“Maintenance is the key to ensuring that blades have a long service life,” says Jeff Grandgenett of Mankiewicz. “We provide leading edge protection that is uniquely formulated for the windpower market.”

AeroTorque’s WindTC torsional control retrofit can extend the life of a gearbox. The torque limiter offers standard forward toque limiting but has a reverse torque limiter that is significantly lower. This mechanical control reduces damaging loading in a drive train.

CoreaRopax displayed this unique turbine design for urban areas. As the heart-shaped rotating blades enter the power-gain position, they tilt to a 90 degree angle relative to the wind direction. The blade then returns to 0 degrees, minimizing air resistance.

Windpower Engineering and Development staff members stopped by the Castrol booth to film a product update. Castrol offers a range of wind turbine-specific lubricants which the company says are now the chosen “first fill” lubricant for the world’s major turbine manufacturers.

Windpower Engineering and Development social media coordinator Heather Centorbi and the rest of the staff are happy to be hear at Windpower 2014 in Las Vegas!