Page 21 - North American Clean Energy January February 2018 Issue

common devices rely on sound waves (SoDAR) or light waves (LiDAR). e key advantage of remote sensing is that the technology can collect wind data at the hub heights of today’s modern turbines. is ground-based equipment is safer, easier to deploy, and doesn’t require tall towers or FAA permits. However, not all remote sensors are well suited for wintertime deployments, and performance varies signi cantly amongst the range of devices available in the market.
Remote Sensing Considerations for Cold Climates
Power demands are the primary consideration when evaluating a remote sensing unit for wintertime wind resource assessment activities. What is your device’s energy consumption? Will it require an external power supply or grid-connected power? Most green eld sites are remote; if on-site electricity isn’t an option, how will you power the device, and how frequently will you need to refuel a generator or fuel cell?
Deployment and maintenance are also crucial. In the wintertime, it is much simpler to install a remote sensor compared to a met tower. How much time it takes your manufacturer to ship and install the device will determine how far in advance you need to plan. Also, once installed at a remote wind site, what is your maintenance and repair plan? If something goes wrong, some units are too fragile or complex to be serviced in the eld by a local technician. In these cases, you may need to return the device to the factory for repairs, and wait for a loaner unit from the manufacturer.
Shifts in season also call for special preparation. For example, solar-powered units (such as some SoDARs) may need adjustments to the panel tilt to account for the lower angle of the sun during winter, and could require a supplementary power source. LiDAR units have much higher power consumption (usually ten to fteen times that of a SoDAR, depending on the device) and require either a generator, or some combination of solar panel and methanol fuel cell to stay powered up, unless a nearby energy source is available.
High performance tapping and thread milling solutions
Sandvik Coromant has launched new tapping and thread milling tools for ISO S materials (titanium and nickel- based alloys). e products have been speci cally designed to deliver process security on high-value components, such as engine casings, thus providing reductions in
scrap rates and machine downtime. Developed to o er consistent and repeatable results, optimized geometry on the new taps for titanium includes a small positive rake angle for challenging materials and an innovative, wear resistant ACN (aluminium chromium nitride) coating that helps prevent weld formations. To avoid chip jamming
in challenging material, the taps also have a high ank clearance for reduced friction. For stable tapping, the tools for nickel-based alloys feature a reduced helix of 10°. e thread mills are produced with MJ thread forms with a 27° helix, the optimum angle for threading exotic materials. MJ thread forms are prevalent in the aerospace industry as they help reduce stress in the thread root of components. Sandvik Coromant | www.sandvik.coromant.com
Enduring Cold Weather Challenges
Collecting measurements to capture wind characteristics at hub height is a fundamental part of wind development. e heavy snow and icy weather
in markets like central Canada and Scandinavia come with challenges and require special considerations for wind measurement. e good news is that our industry is innovative. We’ve developed reliable, proven technologies that can stand up to arctic environments, help reduce uncertainty, and accelerate growth.
Lee Alnes is Global Manager of Energy Measurement Systems at Vaisala. He joined Second Wind in 2009, to promote the company's products and launch the
Triton Sonic Wind Pro ler into new applications and markets. He previously served as COO and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at WindLogics Inc. in St. Paul, MN. During his tenure at WindLogics, he developed the company’s wind energy strategy and service o erings, culminating in the acquisition of the company by FPL Energy (now NextEra Energy Resources) in 2006. He brings 10 years of experience in the wind energy market, and over 20 years of business-to-business sales, marketing, and business development experience in emerging growth companies and multi- national corporations.
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