Page 19 - North American Clean Energy January/February 2020 Issue

different from what we see out on a wind farm. In fact, the technology has been around for ages.
The mechanics are fairly straightforward: Large Ferris wheels use two rubber truck tires that press up against the rim to turn the wheel. Instead of utilizing a heavy
and expensive nacelle and gearbox, it’s possible to add a rim and utilize the drive tires. Additionally, we would eliminate the risk of fire and the expense associated with gearbox maintenance and replacement.
Rather than utilizing blades that stretch 100 feet, an alternative would be to use
20 five-foot blades (which would act as airfoils) on 64 spokes that extend from
the hub to the rim. Each blade would individually pitch and customize their collective twist to current wind conditions, ultimately being more efficient than a larger blade with a permanent twist. An even greater advantage: all 1,280 blades can ship in a standard container.
In fact, all the components can be designed to ship in standard shipping containers. With the axle, rim segments, and tower segments all measuring less than 40 feet, transportation logistics are greatly simplified. Smaller sized components could be easily shipped to ports with limited access, to reach more remote locations lacking developed infrastructures.
Without the nacelle and gearbox, the turbine would be light enough to be lifted into place using a hydraulic cylinder.
This cylinder would be a permanent installation that would offer an added advantage - it could be used to lower the turbine for maintenance, or in advance of severe weather.
Because this turbine model would be less expensive to purchase, install, and maintain, it would be an economically viable solution for stand-alone situations, ideal for distributed generation applications or mini/micro-grids. The rated capacity would be 800kW, but the more efficient design means the turbine would deliver a higher annual output of electricity. For example, in a wind regime of 7 m/s, the turbine would produce 3GW of electricity in a year’s time.
The flexibility of this turbine model has the potential to harness the world’s natural resources, making expensive diesel systems obsolete, and providing economic opportunity for remote communities in the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada, Sub-Saharan Africa, and any other place in the world hungry for affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly energy.
Debbie O’Hara is Chief Marketing Officer at BarberWind Turbines, LLC, which offers low cost wind turbines for the mid-sized market.
BarberWind Turbines
/// barberwindturbines.com
Hi-visibility rainwear
The Pyramex ANSI-Rated Hi-Vis Rainwear line includes a rain jacket (RRWJ31 Series), pants (RRWP31 Series), bib pants (RRWB31Series), and raincoat (RRWC31 Series) and is designed to work with the technician’s
body as they maneuver through wet conditions. All four outerwear pieces are rated for ANSI Type R Class
3. Built tough, the Hi-Vis lime material is made from breathable polyester with a polyurethane coating to
keep moisture out. Two-inch silver reflective material adorns arms, waist, and leg areas for appropriate 360° visibility at dawn, day, dusk, or night. The pieces are constructed with care and quality with sewn and sealed waterproof seams. The rain jacket and coat feature a zipper front closure with a metal button storm flap and an attached drawstring hood which stows away in the collar. The jacket and coat also have a cape back and underarm vents, elastic cuffs, and slash pockets on the front for easy access. The raincoat has a vented bottom for maximum breathability. The pants and bib pants feature metal take up snaps at the bottom of the pant legs for easy wear over boots and work shoes. The pants and bib pants are designed to allow for maximum movement without any hinderance. They are also built for comfort with an elastic waistband. The bib pants have heavy-duty material at the knees for extra durability and removable kneepads as well as adjustable suspenders for a custom fit. All rainwear pieces are available in sizes small through 5XL.
Pyramex Safety /// www.pyramexsafety.com
Fully integrated, loop- powered displacement transmitter
Brüel & Kjær Vibro (B&K Vibro) announces the release of the DT-
12x series of transmitters. These
fully integrated, loop-powered displacement transmitters offer a unique streamlined solution for
shaft displacement and vibration monitoring capability for a wide range of industrial machines. The DT-12x series are fully integrated transmitters which means the driver (oscillator) and signal conditioning electronics (vibration monitor) are built directly into the sensor. This simplifies installation by eliminating the need and space requirements
for a driver, vibration monitor, and eventually a protective housing. Due to this design, the transmitter can directly be connected to a DCS or
PLC using it’s standardized 4-20mA output. The transmitter is loop- powered, so its 4-20mA signal is not affected by long wiring distances, voltage drops, or noise. This simplifies installation when connecting to a DCS or PLC, since only two wires have to be connected in the current loop. The DT-12x series displacements transmitters are versatile from a monitoring perspective. In addition
to the 4-20mA outputs, there are also buffered output wires for transferring voltage signals to portable monitoring instruments for analysis and data storage. The transmitters are also built for harsh industrial environments. The DT-12x series of displacement transmitters are available in three different mounting configurations.
Brüel & Kjær Vibro
/// www.bkvibro.com
LEADING THE WAY IN WIND ENERGY CONSTRUCTION
www.blackandmcdonald.com
North American Clean Energy
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