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Wind Turbine Protection

Protecting wind power infrastructure from weathering erosion of the rotor blades and corrosion of the monopiles and steel supporting structures are critical in ensuring lower costs of operation:

  • Off and on shore wind power energy is becoming an important mix of the renewable energy that are becoming an important part of the world economy.
  • Epoxy-fiber rotor blades required constant inspection and maintenance in of 1-2 years.
  • Off-shore steel supporting structures start to see observable corrosion in less than 12 months in some cases.
  • Corrosion damages is also important to the electrical and mechanical systems after extended time of operations.

The following table are presentative products of AIT FLUOROSEAL® erosion and corrosion protection coatings. For specific applications, please fill up the application form here for more directly applicable products.

FLUOROSEAL® PVDF Coatings:

  1. Field Applicable Ambient Storage 1-Component VOC Free Coating
  2. Apply Over the Existing Epoxy or Polyurethane Coatings
  3. Air Drying to Clear Overcoat (CPC 7150, CPC7153-WH)
  4. Air-Drying, Crosslinking Version (CPC 7280) for Abrasion and Chemical Resistance
  5. Air-Drying, Crosslinking with Biocide Enhancement for Below Waterline (CPC 7283)
  6. Patent-pending 100% PVDF top-coating (CPC 7650)
  7. Proven corrosion protection <75μm coating thickness
  8. Proven UV blocking to protect the underlying epoxy-polyurethane
  9. Proven moisture and rain barrier

Rotor Blade Erosion Protection Coating
Leading edge effect (LEE) of the wind turbine blade (WTB) erosion is one of the main causes of wind turbine mechanical failure and slow degradation of the wind energy conversion efficiency. It is one of the major costs in the operation for inspection, repair and maintenance.  AIT FLUOROSEAL® PVDF top coating can block UV and repel water in minimize the impact of rain over time to double the rotor blade service life from erosion damage.

Monopile and Steel Structure Corrosion Protection Coating
Wind turbine steel support structural corrosion is another major cause of failure for both onshore and offshore systems. Corrosion is caused by penetration through the epoxy protective coating of dissolved salt ions and/or corrosive acidic gases to reach the metal steel surfaces. The corrosion rate accelerated by UV damages on the molecular integrity of the epoxy and other corrosion protective coating on the steel structure. With higher concentration of dissolved salt ions in salt fog, salt spray and salt water, offshore system is particularly vulnerable to corrosion.

Electrical System Corrosion Protection Coating
Corrosion happens not only to the outside of a wind turbine but also inside when exposed to the more aggressive corrosive environment such as offshore sea condition. Control and generator units are subjected to electrical contacts and electronic circuit corrosion that causes the wind turbine to fail.