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High-pressure gas storage vessels represent one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for advanced composites, particularly for filament-wound carbon fiber composites. Although they are used in self-contained breathing apparatuses and provide oxygen and gas storage on aerospace vehicles, the primary end markets are for storage of liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

Filament winding is a specialized technique used in composite manufacturing, involving the precise and automated winding of continuous fibers onto a rotating mandrel or mold. This method allows for the creation of strong and seamless structures, optimizing the alignment and orientation of the fibers to meet specific design requirements. Filament winding is employed in producing cylindrical or conical composite parts, such as pipes, pressure vessels, and aerospace components, enabling engineers to tailor the strength, stiffness, and performance characteristics of the final product.

Processes in composites manufacturing encompass a diverse array of techniques employed to fabricate composite materials. These processes include methods like hand layup, where layers of resin and reinforcement materials are manually placed, and vacuum infusion, where a vacuum draws resin into a preform. Other techniques like compression molding, filament winding, and automated methods such as 3D printing are utilized to create intricate and specialized composite structures. Each process offers unique advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and efficiency, catering to diverse industry needs. As technology advances, newer methods are emerging, promising faster production cycles, reduced waste, and increased customization, driving the evolution of composite manufacturing towards more sophisticated and versatile methodologies.

The wind energy market has long been considered the world’s largest market, by volume, for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites — and increasingly, carbon fiber composites — as larger turbines and longer wind blades are developed, requiring higher performance, lighter weight materials. The outer skins of wind and tidal turbine blades generally comprise infused, GFRP laminates sandwiching foam core. Inside the blade, rib-like shear webs bonded to spar caps reinforce the structure. Spar caps are often made from GFRP or, as blade lengths lengthen, pultruded carbon fiber for additional strength.

In its latest earnings results, the company announces new or extended agreements with Vestas, GE, Enercon and Nordex alongside decreased Q3 sales due to continuing industry challenges.

Two lease areas cover 110,091 acres in the Carolina Long Bay, with potential availability of 1.3 GW of offshore wind energy. An auction will be held May 11.

Vestas will supply 138 V236-15.0 MW turbines for Empire Offshore Wind’s 2.1 GW offshore wind projects, which are located 15-30 miles off the coast of Long Island, New York, U.S.

Two-megawatt plant will use Gazelle’s hybrid floating wind platform, established to be robust and simple to build, deploy and maintain in deep waters.

The supply agreement further strengthens the flexibility of Vestas’ manufacturing footprint and expands the wind energy supply chain.

U.S. commercial-scale offshore wind farm design to include GE Haliade-X wind turbines for 800 MW of wind energy development in Massachusetts.

In this Digital Demo, Scott Waterman, Global Sales Director at AXEL Plastics (Monroe, Conn., U.S.), outlines the unique differences of filament winding and wrapping that affect the selection and usage of mold release. (Sponsored)

Technologies tested in the Filton wind tunnel — many inspired by biomimicry — will include gust sensors, pop-up spoilers and multifunctional trailing edges.

Among its product offerings, new highlights are modular mold designs for wind turbine manufacturing and expansion of Kerdyn recycled PET.

Organizers and attendees lessons learned and outlook from November 2022 conference at DTU Risø in Denmark.