This hoodie is intended for wear over a safety harness. Users experience increased freedom of movement, plus the warmth, and wind protection that only a premium fabric such as Polartec Wind Pro FR can provide, which is four times more wind resistance than standard fleece. Features include special zippered vents for access to harness connectors and full-zip front adjusts for harness D-ring access.

There are many things to consider when developing a clothing line for wind technicians. On a cold morning you want to be bundled up before you get in the truck and drive out to the site. You still want to be warm as you prepare to climb. Then, as you approach the top of the turbine, your body temperature has risen so you enter a nice and warm nacelle. By that time, you’re sweaty and have to work in a confined area in your bulky winter gear. That is not ideal.

This is where Purnell Gear comes in – by introducing the first hoodie for industrial athletes – those who climb wind turbines. It slips over a harness and allows access to D-rings in the front as well as the center one in the back. The hood has no drawstrings, something OSHA frowns upon in climbing gear. Instead, it sports a zipper that clinches the hood together and keeps the neck warm. Pockets are located to allow access while climbing. One on the left sleeve holds a mobile phone, note pads, or radio.

The design lets wearers take off the hoodie once they arrive at the nacelle without having to remove the harness, so you can still be strapped in. Along with the hoodies, the company has developed an entire range of wind turbine climb ready clothes. They are all tailored for flexibility and comfort while climbing wind turbines.

These rugged flame-resistant cargo pants are made with an abrasion-resistant blend of 11 oz. double-shrunk cotton and high-tenacity nylon that’s as soft as cotton, but lasts 75% longer. Easy-to-reach 7 x 7-in. leg pockets hold lots of gear and zip up for security. Water-resistant finish protects against the elements and stains.

A final point to raise is the increased OSHA scrutiny directed towards the wind industry. Recently, more than one technician has been reprimanded and some removed from sites because they were working on electrical equipment without arc-rated clothes. Purnel Gear’s entire series of work clothes are either arc-rated or fire-rated, with the actual rating clearly marked on the left shoulder. That lets the safely supervisor clearly see who is properly dressed to work on the various pieces of equipment.

Purnell Gear

www.purnellgear.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

A Capital Safety technician tests a harness with weighted dummy body. The company maintains its own testing lab rather than use an outside facility, in part so that tests are done in a timely manner.

For those who design fall protection equipment, ANSI standards provide guidance for what the equipment should be capable of. That organization has been working on a series of the standards over the years to protect those who work at height. For users, the ANSI Z359 series means tested equipment meets minimal conditions, and possibly more. Recently, the organization issued an umbrella standard, ANSI Z359.7, which says more about the series and testing.

The standard

“The primary standards for the fall-protection industry give direction to manufacturers in terms of how a product must perform and additional details such as labeling and user instructions,” says Capital Safety spokesman Craig Firl. “The standards help make better products and eventually give end users a high level of confidence.”

While specific product standards deal with, for example, details regarding harnesses, self-retracting lifelines, or energy-absorbing lanyards, this latest ANSI Z359.7 standard is a more general standard, or umbrella standard.. “Officially, it’s a qualification and verification-testing standard. It says that for anyone to manufacturer an ANSI Z359 compliant fall protection product, the manufacturer must first meet the requirements of Z359.7. Essentially, it says the manufacturer must test the product in an accredited lab,” says Firl. The standard also describes conditions of the testing lab, such as it must be audited by an independent and qualified third party, and its equipment must be calibrated and met all described requirements.

Firl adds that meeting ANSI Z359.7 means the safety equipment has been properly tested and to the most current version of the applicable component standard. It is unacceptable to pick a previous version and test products to that. A manufacturer has to test and meet every requirement of the ANSI standards. “Other requirements call for retests over periods based on whether or not you have a documented quality system in place,” says Firl.

For manufacturers

The umbrella standard requires that before anything is marked ANSI Z359 compliant, it must be tested in an accredited laboratory. “Our in-house lab meets that requirement and has been accredited by an independent outside agency. That organization came in, audited the lab, examined the records, processes, and procedures. One goal of the standard is that whether a product is tested in a lab in Red Wing, Minn., or California, or in New York, the results are documented and repeatable.”

“Capital Safety has had an in-house ANSI compliant lab for years, but had to make quite a few updates to meet the new ANSI Z359 standard. While it was a big investment both in terms of time and money, the company saw it as necessary investment for its customers,” he says.

The certificate of compliance from Capital Safety, available online from a Certification tab at the company website, tells that the Tie Off Adaptor PT 6’ has been tested to ANSI Z359.1

With a documented quality system in place, Firl says no more than five years can pass before his company must retest a product, as long as the product has not changed Manufacturers may have to test more frequently  if they do not have a formal, registered documented quality system in place.

Even though the company has been doing in-house testing, once the standard became active it had to go back and update previous tests. “We performed thousands of tests covering every applicable fall protection product the company offers to comply with ANSI. That is a process ongoing for the last 18 months. So we have made a significant investment, and we are 100% behind the effort and value in ANSI compliance.”

For users

The standard raises the bar for end users and gives them a higher level of confidence that the product they are wearing and using for fall protection has been tested in an accredited lab, and meets applicable ANSI standards. Users will know this because it will carry a label that says so. The appropriate standard is referenced on the label. WPE

A brief look at the ANSI standards

The current ANSI Z359 Fall ProtectionCode, includes the following: .

* Z359.0 Definitions and Nomenclature

* Z359.1 – “Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components”

* Z359.2 – “Minimal Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program”

* Z359.3 – “Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems”

* Z359.4 – “Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components”

Updates to the standard in 2009 include:

* Z359.6 – “Specifications and Design Requirements for Active Fall Protection Systems”

* Z359.7 Qualification and Verification Testing of Fall Protection Products

* Z359.12 – “Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest Systems”

* Z359.13 – “Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards”

* Z359.14 – Safety Requirements for Self-Retracting Devices

Source: ANSI

Capital Safety

www.capitalsafety.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

AnalytiX is a suite of software that transform large amounts of real-time data from manufacturing and facility operations into actionable Intelligence.

Software developer ICONICS has announced its expanded Wind AnalytiX software. This new software offers extensive integration of energy and meter sources into one unified platform with real-time monitoring, an extensive data historian, advanced distributed alarm management, and notification and data analytics.

Wind AnalytiX is said to quickly turn large amounts of real-time and historical data into valuable information and monitors renewables’ Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE). Advanced dashboards deliver KPIs needed for optimum renewables management and help drive continuous improvement. Additional data analysis capabilities assure renewable assets are online and producing at specified performance. When failures occur, Wind AnalytiX issues alerts and maintenance notifications and will provide automatic guidance resulting in reduced downtime and reduced costs related to diagnostics and repairs.

The software includes:

EarthWorX  which combines live maps using ESRI mapping technology as well as Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps. Users quickly view geographically dispersed wind and renewable assets, visualize real-time and historical equipment faults. View real-time data using patented Smart Pin Technology. Users can quickly zoom or pan through maps to navigate across their entire renewable assets and operations.

PortalWorX, a simple-to-configure dashboard technology delivers the world’s leading visualization to any Web browser. PortalWorX integrates with Microsoft SharePoint and Silverlight and provides customizable KPIs, charting, Excel grids, alarming, reports and many other dashboard Web parts. Easily customizable Web portals provide comprehensive, personalized visibility of your operations, maintenance and financial information, to help make decisions.

FDDWorX,  Fault Detection and Diagnostics with advanced algorithms to analyze, detect, and predict equipment faults. When faults do occur, the system provides a list of probable causes with current estimated probabilities.

Hyper Historian,  a high performance Plant Historian that can archive high volumes of equipment condition, power, and power quality data at high resolution and then deliver complex analysis, charting, and reporting.

AssetWorX,  intelligent Asset Technology that lets users define assets and apply sophisticated intelligence and analytics to these assets. Defined assets can include wind turbines and substations based on the IEC61400 and IEC61850 standards. Analyses can be performed for energy aggregation and turbine performance. AssetWorX significantly decreases overall engineering time for the largest of wind power and utility operations.

“High oil prices and Middle East political instability are accelerating demand and simplifying justification of new wind-power projects, which stimulates the market need for automation tools necessary to maximize production of wind energy that have the most dramatic effect on profitability and asset utilization,” said Craig Resnick, Research Director, ARC Advisory Group. “Solutions such as ICONICS’ Wind AnalytiX provide the information needed through visualization and reporting tools that help wind power projects maximize their operational efficiency and reduce costs.”

ICONICS

www.iconics.com 

Windpower Engineering & Development

PREMO releases its MICU 300A-S/LF inductive coupler

The MICU 300A-S/LF inductive coupler transmits the PLC signals between power lines and the PLC data transceiver without connection of communication cables to power lines. This inductive coupler has a safer installation (High insulation > 5 kV) than a capacitive coupler.

Key advantages:
•Very low attenuation at low frequency
•Very fast installation
•Long distance transmission
•Best choice for cabinet and underground MV
•Avoids Powercut

PREMO’s new MICU 300A-S/LF is a high-current solution made with high permeability and high performance nanocrystalline materials which avoid saturation problems at high currents. Moreover, it offers low insertion losses, 10dB±2dB (@100-250kHz); 5dB±2dB (@250-600kHz).

This cost effective solution has been customized for Maxim G3-PLC modems. It is also compatible with Enverv PLC modem Chipsets. It offers an optimum performance at 500kbit for PRIME PLC Smart grids solutions.

It is a waterproof compact solution BNC connector integrated in the coupler (other connections available under request).

The kit can be ordered directly on PREMO’s e-shop and delivered in 24-48 hours.

PREMO
www.grupopremo.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

This personalized climb assist suits a wide range of climbing styles and user weights, and can be easily transported to support multiple systems and wind towers.

Capital Safety announces the new DBI-SALA Powered Climb Assist System for who climb the internal ladders of wind towers. The new system – which features a wire cable, wire cable grip and lanyard assembly, portable motor control unit, cable tensioning system, and top and bottom bracket assemblies – adjusts to environmental conditions and adapts to end-user movement so they can ascend and descend effortlessly. This personalized adjustment system suits a wide range of climbing styles and user weights, and can be easily transported to support multiple systems and wind towers.

“Wind turbines can be tiresome and time-consuming to climb, and when workers are worn-out, their safety and productivity is compromised,” said Chris Elder, engineered systems senior product manager at Capital Safety. “Our new Powered Climb Assist System by DBI-SALA provides weight-relief to workers, which reduces fatigue and improves climbing longevity. The system design enhances the total assist range with five force level settings, so workers can get the job done faster, easier and, ultimately, safer.”

The DBI-SALA Powered Climb Assist System is a non-fall arrest rated system and is used in conjunction with an approved ladder safety system. Optional power cords are available to match appropriate receptacles to meet global compatibility.

Capital Safety

www.capitalsafety.com 

Windpower Engineering & Development

• Sales up around 31% to EUR 259.0 million
  

  Nordex order intake continued to climb in the first three months of 2013. At €327.9 million, new business rose by 5%, compared with the high level of the same period last year (Q1/2012: €312.3 million).

• Further 5% increase in order intake
• Break-even at EBIT level almost reached  in line with budget
• Working capital ratio of 12%
• Full-year guidance confirmed

The Nordex Group posted a 30.6% increase in sales to €259.0 million in the first quarter of 2013 (previous year: €198.3 million). This performance was underpinned by strong business in the core European region, which contributed 94% of sales. On the other hand, business in America contracted by a substantial 57.6%, accounting for only 5% of consolidated sales, while Asian business remained persistently weak.

The greater volume of business is also reflected in production and installation activity. To that end Nordex produced 60% more turbines in the first quarter, completing more than twice the capacity of the same period of the previous year. This performance together with reduced structural costs in the U.S. and China, which had previously operated below capacity, resulted in a substantial improvement in operating earnings. As a result, the loss at EBIT level came to €0.6 million as of 31 March 2013 (previous year: loss of €9.0 million) and was therefore fully in line with budget. The consolidated net loss was reduced by 40% to €8.4 million (previous year: loss of €14.0 million).

Due to increased purchasing and production activity, the working capital ratio widened to 11.8% (31 December 2012: 8.7%), with cash and cash equivalents declining by 29.3% to €194.2 million (31 December 2012: €224.3 million). Net cash outflow from operating activities amounted to €60.0 million (Q1/2012: inflow of €34.8 million).

Order intake continued to climb in the first three months of 2013. At EUR 327.9 million, new business rose by 5%, compared with the high level of the same period last year (Q1/2012: €312.3 million). This performance was driven by sales successes in Northern Europe, particularly in the domestic German market, as well as successful marketing of the N117/2400 low-wind turbine. Thanks to the best first quarter since 2008, firmly financed orders grew to €1,141 million (previous year: €837 million), thus ss the coo, creating a solid basis to achieve its full-year sales target.

The Management Board of Nordex SE confirms its forecast for 2013 and expects a further increase in sales to €1.2 to 1.3 billion (2013: €1,075 million). Given slightly weaker capacity use in the first half of the year compared with the second half, management expects operating earnings to improve in the final quarters, resulting in a full-year EBIT margin of 2 to 3%.

Nordex

www.nordex-online.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

When serious damage is imminent, or blade conditions are approaching a preset condition threshold, (such as the blades in the pictures which are covered in ice) the system immediately sends a signal to the turbine control unit, which can then shut down the unit and avoid blade damage.

Continuous blade monitoring can be an effective tool for sustaining the efficiency and performance of wind turbines. Rotor blades are exposed to significant environmental strains, such as icing, storms, and excessive wind gusts, which can damage blades.

When this damage is detected only during routine visual inspections, the complexity and cost of repairing―or even replacing the damaged blades―can be quite high.

Bosch Rexroth created the BLADEcontrol system to provide active, real-time data on wind turbine blade conditions, so wind energy operators can take proactive steps to correct issues early and avoid turbine downtime.  In addition to blade damage, the control system detects other problems, such as aerodynamic imbalances, loose parts in the blade or hub, and incorrect pitch settings.

Bosch Rexroth
www.boschrexroth-us.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

The company is enjoying continued success, recently being awarded 10 Best Practices Awards, including one, “Best of the Best,” by the Combined Cycle Journal. NAES Maintenance and Construction Group is continuing to grow its air quality control systems services, with NAES Power Contractors being awarded the installation of a dry sorbent injection (DSI) system and an activated carbon injection (ACI) system at a coal-fired generating station owned by a cooperative located in the Midwest.

NAES experts chaired multiple sessions and made presentations during the conference. Mark Minniti, Sales Director for NAES Power Contractors, chaired and co-chaired three sessions: “Maximizing Craft Productivity,” “Maintenance Contracting Strategy,” and “Labor’s Role in Contracted Plant Maintenance,” moderated by NAES Power Contractors Sr. VP and Chief Commercial Officer Jake Hardy. Brian Heinbaugh, Power Plant Operations Division Director, chaired and co-chaired two sessions: “Small Flexible Power Solutions: When Size Does Matter,” and “What Does the Market Expect from Gas Plants?” Finally, Doug Machon, Senior Business Development Manager, presented “Strategic Partnering for O&M of Next-Gen Clean Energy Plants.”

NAES
www.naes.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

Hy-Pro Filtration recently broke ground on its new 122,500-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.

The company is moving from a two-building facility in Fishers where it makes hydraulic, lubricating oil, and diesel-fuel products.

“We’re out of space,” says Operations Manager, Aaron Hoeg. “We need this new facility and we’re going to fill it up.” He added that the building could be operational by late October.

The facility just north of Nestle USA will eventually employ 107 workers and HyPro has agreed — in writing — to give qualified locals first crack at jobs. Of 52 current employees, roughly a third live in the Madison County area.

In addition to jobs — which average $21 an hour plus benefits — Hy-Pro is expected to invest about $10.5 million in Madison County as it ramps up operations over the next few years.

The city could also expand its current Tax Increment Financing district to include a roughly 50-acre plot that encompasses the new facility, which would recapture some of Hy-Pro’s paid taxes to fund redevelopment projects. The plant is on Anderson’s southwest side near I-69. The Anderson Redevelopment Commission green-lighted the proposal last month, but since it would involve changes to the Anderson’s redevelopment plan, it has to be approved by other city organizations.

Hy-Pro Filtration
www.hyprofiltration.com

Windpower Engineering & Development

As you already know, AWEA is the driving force behind wind power in the United States. The organization has been busy with the PTC extension, wrapping up WINDPOWER 2013, and interim CEO Rob Gramlich recently released a house testimony regarding the “Hearing on American Energy Security and Innovation: Grid Reliability Challenges in a Shifting Energy Resource Landscape.” In this podcast, Michael Goggin, Senior Electric Industry Analyst for AWEA discusses the reliability of wind energy and the grid, utilities, and why U.S. wind is necessary.

Windpower Engineering & Development