Game changing rotor blade construction method
Pontis Engineering has developed an innovative, patent pending, rotor blade construction method based on full thermoplastic resin (Elium® resin) in cooperation with chemistry giant Arkema (France).
With this Pontis has taken a significant step in its ongoing quest for smarter, better ways to produce advanced composite products with superior qualities.
While examining the value of Arkema’s Elium resin in wind applications, we found that thermoplastic resin is ideally suited for welding methods, whereas in conventional rotor blade production bonding paste is commonly used. We successfully applied this new construction method to a test blade component and found a number of significant advantages for the blade’s features, including:
The blade is fully recyclable (due to the thermoplastic materials);
- No bonding paste is used (= weight reduction);
- Welded joints;
- Ground breaking blade construction without bond line at the aerodynamic pressure point at the leading edge;
- Razor sharp trailing edge;
- Short cycle time and cost saving process;
- Increased lifespan of the blade.
Pontis Director Dirk Jan Kootstra says: “This is the first step in the development of what we expect to be a game changer in rotor blade construction. We are very excited about the results we achieved with Arkema and we are proudly presenting our demonstrator at the Arkema booth (stand U39, Hall 5) at JEC World 2017”.
We look forward to meeting you at JEC and to inform you in more detail about the potential of this innovation. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment (info@pontis-engineering.com).