To optimize the production of offshore wind turbines , researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United States Department of Energy have integrated robotics into the blade manufacturing process. This innovation seeks to eliminate difficult working conditions for workers and improve the consistency of final products.
Competitive improvement in offshore wind turbines
Consequently, research focused on developing automation methods that facilitate the competitiveness of U.S.-made blades in the global market. Hunter Huth, lead author of the study, said in a press conference that blades for offshore wind turbines are not currently produced in the US due to high labor costs. The labor-intensive finishing process generates high staff turnover due to its physical demands. Automating this process could make domestic production of these blades more economically feasible.
The experimentation was carried out at the Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology (CoMET) facility on the Flatirons Campus of the NREL, where a robot was used to work on a five meter blade section. The researchers had to face the challenge of programming the robot to handle the full dimensions of the blades, which are noticeably longer and tend to bend and deflect under their own weight.
Robots and scanners for precise production
To carry out this task, the team used advanced scanners that provided a three-dimensional model of the blade, accurately identifying the front and rear sections of the airfoil. This allowed the robot to perform a series of operations, subsequently evaluating its precision and speed . Although areas for improvement were identified, especially in blade sharpening, the results are promising for future applications.
The integration of robotics into the manufacturing of wind turbine components could not only revolutionize the efficiency of the production process, but also has the potential to drive research into stronger materials and more advanced manufacturing techniques. This synergy between robotics and renewable energies could be key to reaching new standards of sustainability and performance in the energy sector.
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Source: worldenergytrade
Photo: Shutterstock
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