Press Releases
June 4, 2007
LORD Corporation Successfully Tests Prototype Dampers for Wasatch Wind, Wind Tower Systems Division
LORD Corporation – a global leader in the management of motion, vibration and noise – has announced successful testing of a breakthrough damper design for their strategic partner Wasatch Wind, Wind Tower Systems Division.
Based on proprietary, patented technology used in helicopter rotor damping applications, the damper design for this application had the challenging requirement of a 20-year life with zero maintenance, huge temperature swings, massive loads as well as very small deflections. LORD modeled a wide range of possible flow paths for the fluid damper as it wears in operation. According to Bryan Haltom, LORD Market Development Manager, accelerated durability testing is currently underway on sub-components to confirm predicted life and functionality of the damper.
Testing completed to date demonstrates the ability of the damper to provide bi-directional damping in the frequency range of interest, 0.25 to 0.45 Hz. Wasatch Wind has conservatively modeled their tower system with energy dissipation lower than the levels LORD is targeting.
“LORD has leveraged more than 80 years of experience in vibration isolation and industrial damping applications to design and manufacture the damping system for the unique struts in Wasatch Wind's Space Frame tower,” said Haltom. “It is exciting to see the analytical and physical test results match so well.”
According to Haltom, the test results provide physical proof that the damper will enable tremendous savings during the construction of wind turbine towers. Wasatch Wind's patent-pending tower delivers a step-function reduction in the cost of wind generation. The installed tower cost reduction of approximately 20 to 35 percent, combined with the linear height/cost scalability, deliver an overall turbine cost of energy (COE) reduction of five to 12 percent. Because Wasatch Wind's standard-truck transport and integrated derrick system eliminates track crane requirements, the number of potential wind farm sites increases by up to 20 times.
About LORD Corporation
With headquarters in Cary, N.C., USA, and sales in excess of $630-MM, LORD Corporation is a privately-held company that designs, manufactures and markets devices and systems to manage mechanical motion and control noise and vibration; formulates, produces and sells general purpose and specialty adhesives and coatings; and develops products and systems utilizing magnetically responsive technologies. With manufacturing in nine countries and offices in more than 15 major business centers, LORD Corporation employs more than 2,400 worldwide. Visit www.lord.com for more information.
Click here to download a PDF version of this press release