Renewable energy is energy that does not require limited resources. There are many types of renewable energy, like solar power, hydropower, and wind power. In this article, I will talk about wind power and one of the big problems it faces.

Wind power is usually harvested with wind turbines. Wind turbines generate power by using blades to collect the wind’s kinetic energy. It collects this energy by using blades that the wind flows over. the wind flowing over the blades creates lift and causes the blades to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator so when the blades turn it generates electricity.

One of the problems with this is that in places with cold and damp climates, frost forms on the blades, increasing resistance and causing wear and tear. To combat this problem, a group of experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA have come up with a cost-effective solution to protect wind turbines against ice. The solution they came up with is a project named TURBO(Temporary coating using drones).

Previously, this issue has been very expensive, and previous solutions have been integrating self-heating mats into blades and using helicopters to de-ice the blades. These solutions halted wind turbine production and were very expensive. This new solution is a prototype coating made from urea and wax that is quickly applied using a spray technique to quickly dry. To precisely apply the solution, the team at Fraunhofer IPA designed an airless pump system. This system will be attached to a drone, which can easily apply the solution to crucial parts of the blade when ice first begins to form.

RELATED STORIES:

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/this-new-drone-tech-will-spin-wind-turbines-through-the-winter

https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/drones-could-stop-wind-turbines-icing-over

https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/wind/aerones-develop-deicing-and-cleaning-drone-for-20180322

https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/drones/a19601013/de-icing-wind-turbines-is-easy-with-a-giant-drone/

https://webecoist.momtastic.com/2018/03/21/spin-doctor-drone-cleans-dirty-wind-turbines/

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/electricity-generation-from-wind.php#:~:text=How%20wind%20turbines%20work,which%20produces%20(generates)%20electricity.

TAKE ACTION:

https://www.cleanegroup.org/

https://www.windaction.org/