The wind turbine manufacturing division ofGE，，，，GE Renewable Energy，，，，has opened a new research and development facility dedicated to 3D printing the concrete base of wind turbine towers.
该设施位于纽约卑尔根，将看到GE进行研究，以便在各种风电场的现场进行添加的风力涡轮塔的底部，因为该公司希望降低运输成本并创造额外的就业机会。
“Innovation will continue to be a key driver in accelerating the energy transition,” said Danielle Merfeld, GE Renewable Energy Chief Technology Officer. “It is particularly important to continuously improve the ways we design, manufacture, transport, and construct the large components of modern wind farms.”
Improving wind turbine efficiency with AM
GE在风能生产场内的3D打印已经开创了一段时间，以应用该技术以提高风力涡轮机效率和性能。该公司认为3D打印有可能“bring a step-change in cost and performance competitiveness”在风能领域，作为行业继续以创纪录的速度增长。
In February last year, GE Renewable Energy was awarded a $6.7 million project by theUS Department of Energy（DOE）探索设计和制造3D printed wind turbine blades，，，，working alongsideOak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL) and theNational Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL). The 3D printed turbine blade tips are slated to have several benefits, including being lighter than conventionally manufactured counterparts as well as more recyclable and cost-effective.
几个月后，Fraunhofer IGCV和粘合剂喷气系统制造商voxeljet宣布建立“世界上最大的”风力涡轮机3D打印机，预先铸造单元（ACC），用于GE的海上haliade-xturbine. Once complete, the printer will enable the production of large turbine components near offshore wind projects, lowering transportation costs and bringing environmental benefits.
Aside from turbine blades, GE has also dedicated significant research into how additive manufacturing can be leveraged for the fabrication of wind turbine towers. In June 2020, GE and construction firmscobodandLafargeholcimannounced a partnership to co-develop3D printed “record tall” wind turbine towers。The ability to print the base on-site with a concrete 3D printer could allow for the construction of towers up to 200 meters tall, double that of conventionally built towers due to the logistical issues around transporting them by road.
GE的新风力涡轮机3D打印设施
借助其新的研究和开发设施，GE Reenwable Energy将进一步探索如何在风电场现场打印3D风力涡轮机的混凝土基础。该研究得到了DOE的赠款的部分支持，将看到一支由20人组成的团队来优化3D打印技术。该技术在该领域内的第一个应用预计将在未来五年内进行。
“We appreciate the support of the US Department of energy for the research we are doing here and are confident it will help make the wind farms of tomorrow even more efficient, economical, and environmentally responsible,” said Merfeld.
The new facility is equipped with a 3D printer supplied by COBOD which is the size of a three-story building and capable of printing tower sections up to 20 meters high. With the continual development of the technology, GE plans to be able to 3D print the bottom portion of wind turbine towers on-site at wind farms in order to lower transportation costs and create more employment opportunities at the wind farms the technology will be used.
“We are extremely proud to have delivered a completely new type of 3D concrete printer – the largest of its kind in the world – for this world-class and state-of-the-art facility,” said Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder and General Manager of COBOD. “The printer we have delivered is second to none: not only can it print in excess of 10 tons of real concrete per hour, but in addition, it is the first 3D concrete printer in the world with two X-axes on the printer.
“With the multiple functions of the printer, the printers can be better described as a multifunctional construction robot than a printer.”
Meanwhile, LafargeHolcim is supplying the specially-formulated concrete GE will use to 3D print the turbine towers. The firm predicts that the innovations achieved through its ongoing partnership with GE and COBOD will “help us all significantly” in our quest for net-zero.
霍尔西姆全球研发，Innovation和IP负责人Edelio Bermejo补充说：“ Holcim在加速向清洁，可再生能源的过渡方面发挥着关键作用。”“我们已经在混凝土中研究了3D打印已有近十年了，这项技术的潜力不断扩大。昨天本来是不可能的项目现在是现实。
“我们为与GE和Cobod一起参加这个雄心勃勃的项目感到特别自豪，在那里我们可以在现场直接提出正确的墨水混合物来建造更效率的风力涡轮机。”
Serving the growing US wind power market
According to theAmerican Clean Power Association（ACPA），整个美国都有超过68,000个风力涡轮机产生干净，可靠的动力。实际上，风能目前是该国第四大电力来源，容量总计为135吉瓦。
3 d印刷行业’s interview series on3D printing and renewable energy最近对additive manufacturing within the wind energy sector与GE可再生能源的高级制造技术领导者Matteo Bellucci一起。
“重新aching the Biden administration’s ambitious goals of carbon-free electricity by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050 will require vastly more wind energy capacity,” said Alejandro Moreno, the DoE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power. “We’re proud to partner with GE Renewable Energy on this innovative 3D printing technology which has the potential to be a game-changer in how we harness this resource.
“With American-made taller towers assembled on-site we can cut costs, overcome logistical hurdles, and accelerate progress toward our goals.”
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Featured image showsGE的新型最先进的混凝土3D打印系统来自Cobod。通过GE可再生能源照片。
