Research and Development is the key to ensuring as far as possible that the product really will last as long as intended, and although expensive in the first place will provide investors and certification authorities with the necessary confidence that due technical diligence has been accomplished.

With several tidal turbine developers making rapid progress towards kick-off for design of their first production machines, AEL has recognised that there is an urgent need for a substantial materials and detail testing programme; to both reduce risk and ensure the most cost effective application of structural materials applied to work on tidal turbine blades and other marine renewable energy projects, where composites are used.   AEL has applied for and has been awarded funding for the following research projects:-

“Marine turbine blade materials and structural element characterisation”:- a major Carbon Trust funded project to characterise new highly cost effective materials and structural elements typical of marine turbine blades, therefore meeting the most pressing needs of the industry.  Particular emphasis will be placed on fatigue performance and environmental conditioning.  The results of this programme will be DNV endorsed, thus streamlining their application in future projects.

"NEWMEETT" project: - a longer term TSB funded collaborative effort involving AEL, Advanced Composites Group, Materials Engineering Research Laboratory and the University of Bristol to develop future composite materials with properties tailored to the unique fatigue requirements of renewable energy projects in the marine environment.

This had led to AEL building special rigs for long term testing and materials conditioning which are in continual use updating our knowledge of creep and the effdcts of moisture over very long life cycles.

 Additionally, AEL is pursuing the development of numerical tools to speed up blade design and generic blade design details with the emphasis on improvement of performance, reduction of risk and cost, and application to future large turbine blades. 

 SO; -

 If you have structural problems that may be solved by applying composite (carbon and glass fibre) technology – contact AEL, we may be able to solve it for you.


Aviation Enterprises Ltd.
Membury Airfield,
Lambourn,
Berks.,
RG17 7TJ
UK

Tel
Sales; 01488-72224
Tech; 01488-670491
Fax;   01488-72263
Mob;  07711-618347