The UB coordinates the European project Hydrobond to develop superhydrophobic coatings for the wind power industry
Projecte Hydrobond (New cost-effective superhydrophobic coatings with enhanced bond strenght and wear resistance for application in large wind turbine blades)
Research
(31/01/2013)
The University of Barcelona coordinates the European project Hydrobond which aims at developing a highly innovative process for the application of superhydrophobic coatings onto large off-shore turbine blades that will contribute to minimize the power losses and mechanical failures.
Projecte Hydrobond (New cost-effective superhydrophobic coatings with enhanced bond strenght and wear resistance for application in large wind turbine blades)
Research
31/01/2013
The University of Barcelona coordinates the European project Hydrobond which aims at developing a highly innovative process for the application of superhydrophobic coatings onto large off-shore turbine blades that will contribute to minimize the power losses and mechanical failures.
The project, led by the Thermal Spray Centre (CPT) is part of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union, and has a budget of 4.2 million euros. Hydrobondʼs consortium is composed by eight partners —five companies and three research centres—, from four European countries (Spain, Finland, Germany and Italy).
Representatives of the European Union and the partners of the project will attend the kick-off that takes place on 31st January and 1st February at the Finca Pedro Pons of the UB. The vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Transfer, Jordi Alberch, will also participate in the opening event.
The Thermal Spray Centre of the UB coordinates this European project, led by Josep María Guilemany, professor at the UB and director of CPT, and Irene García Cano, the director of Hydrobond.
Transfer of innovation project
The main objective of the project Hydrobond (New cost-effective superhydrophobic coatings with enhanced bond strength and wear resistance for application in large wind turbine blades) is to develop a highly innovative process for the application of superhydrophobic coatings onto turbine blades over 90 m long. These longer blades will be used in off-shore wind turbines. Josep Maria Guilemany, the projectʼs coordinator, remarks that “these coatings aim at guaranteeing the correct operation of the blades in environments in which ice, corrosion and humidity happen; these new coatings will reduce production time, cost an environmental impact”. Another objective of Hydrobond is to construct lighter larger wind turbines, avoiding the needs of heavier active anti-icing methods which, currently, are expensive and not really efficient.
The project will also transfer knowledge to other industries of small wind turbines, onshore wind energy, aeronautics or the maritime sector.
Thermal Spray Centre of the UB
The Thermal Spray Centre is a research centre of the University of Barcelona specialized since 1994 within the field of Surface Engineering. It is the only centre in Spain fully dedicated to the research, development and innovation of coatings within the thermal spray technologies.
The coatings obtained from thermal spray technologies are extensively used in aeronautics, biomedicine and the car industry, with the aim of improving, making practical and protecting any surface against wear, corrosion or any other external process which can damage the surface during its use.