It’s impressive, but it’s real: these sea colossi have been found floating in the ocean and they have many advantages. The offshore wind energy It is a more than promising way to generate sustainable energy and reduce climate change.
The great novelty is his floating structureswho allows them settle in any areawithout having to settle at low depths, infinitely increasing the space to arrange them and thus search for the best wind areas.
However, these wind constructions can have certain consequences obstacles that hinder its full usability. For example, this is your great weight and especially the corrosion of the material by sea salts from the ocean.
A group of European scientists have created a new project known as DURALINKthat represents optimize the design of these offshore wind energy structures to ensure the best performance. This project is carried out by the Eurecat Technological Centeris funded by the Coal and Steel Research Fund (RFCS) and includes 7 partners from Spain, France, Germany and Belgium.
What does the new offshore wind energy construction project consist of?
The main purpose of DURALINK is «reduce capital and operating costs for large offshore wind turbines«. The floating sea behemoths of the ocean will arise 12 MW turbinesthe project plan improve the resistance of welds and their steel chainsto prevent corrosion from the sea.
This is especially true of the structures withstand the most hostile conditions that they can look at in the middle of the sea. In addition, as explained by Eurecat, “the composition of high-strength steels will be optimized to reduce susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement”, to improve safety in the chains of these turbines.
To prevent the corrosion generated by the sea in the structures, thermospray coatings. These would enable better performance of offshore wind turbines as they are more resistant to their environment and could therefore function better in any environment.
What are Duralink’s main objectives in offshore wind energy?
The purpose of this project is strengthen offshore wind turbines so that they have greater durability and better performance and thus can take full advantage of their benefits, while caring for the environment.
These are some of the main goals of the project, as explained in the Eurecat Technological Center:
- First of all, we try to find opportunities for improving structures of offshore wind turbines.
- Then it is intended to be used high strength steels to ensure less weakness in the face of breakage or hydrogen damage.
- Moreover, the aim is to strengthen the force against «fatigue of welds in steel grades S420NL and S460NL«.
- will also arise thermal spray coatings to protect offshore wind structures against corrosion.
- Finally, check out the corrosion performance and see if the behavior of the coated steels improves depending on different conditions: «fatigue, corrosion fatigue and tribocorrosion«.
«The results and conclusions of DURALINK have a a major potential impact on the wind energy sector and on the heavy and steel industries«, they explained from the official website of the Eurecat Technology Center.
Fortunately, there are these types of initiatives from scientists who think about the environment and want to further improve these types of initiatives renewable energiesbecause not only is it a great way to reduce environmental impact, but they are also constantly being improved so that offshore wind energy can be used to its full potential.