Lindoe Mechanical Testing (LMT)
LORC will offer two types of mechanical testing: MultiFlex and Helicopter Testing.
MultiFlex
MultiFlex, the multi-component test bench for mechanical testing, will be capable of controlled and realistic testing of lubricants, gears, bearings, and dirt holding capacity of oil filters. It is essentially a modularized gearbox, allowing the user to combine the testing of different gearbox components.
Thus, MultiFlex serves multiple testing purposes and seeks to realistically mimic the harsh operating conditions of a wind turbine gearbox. MultiFlex is comprised of several modules, each of which can be assigned separate test parameters. The modules are referred to as the “Bearing Module”, “Gear Module”, “Filter Module”, and “Foam Module” respectively. MultiFlex is also capable of a variety of means of deteriorating the lubricant in a controlled and fully monitored fashion (for instance, temperature variation and particle additions).
The modules can be freely combined in accordance with the specific test requirements. When all modules are put to use, MultiFlex mimics a wind turbine gearbox.
This unique testing setup permits:
- Component testing - bearing, gears, filters
- Lubrication and bearing capacity testing
- Testing of specific component combinations
- Controlled testing of an entire gearbox
- Testing of dirt holding capacity.
Helicopter testing
Blade tip erosion is a massive challenge in the wind industry, and coating producers are striving to be the first to launch a product that can last the entire 20 to 30 years, which is a wind turbines service life. The major (but not only) challenge for the wind turbine blades is to cope with the vigorous exposure caused by hitting sand, dust, rain and/or hail with tip speeds of several hundred kilometers per hour.
LORC will offer a test facility, called Helicopter testing, that can qualify exixsting and new coating products. The helicopter test aims to assure that a tested wind turbine blade coating can withstand the most relevant exposures according to the DNV –standard: DNV-DS-J102 (Design and manufacture of wind turbine blades, Offshore and onshore wind turbines October 2010). The following can be tested:
- Mechanical strain, is to exceed the maximum design strain of the expected substrate
- UV exposure
- Erosion, in particular tip leading edge areas from hail, sand, and dust
- Chemical resistance.