Sustainable energy supplies from renewable sources

Article Type: New materials and equipment From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 57, Issue 5

With the pressing global issue of climate change, Bayer MaterialScience has developed innovative contributions to climate protection through materials and processes in renewable energy sources and environmental materials.

More than 80 per cent of the world’s carbon-based fuels – oil,coal and natural gas – are burned to create energy to fuel vehicles or heat and light homes or produce electricity for the devices such as refrigerators. These sources are not renewable and their use is widely regarded as having a significant impact on climate protection through the emission of greenhouse gases.

Bayer MaterialScience is committed to the development of innovative and sustainable technologies and materials for generating energy from sources of renewable energies such as the wind and sun.

For example, the company has developed second-generation thin-film solar cells that support the production of flexible photovoltaic modules. Makrofol^®polycarbonate films and Platilon^® films made of thermoplastic polyurethane are used in the process and with sheets made of Makrolon^®solar modules can be integrated directly in transparent roof structures.

Already on the market is the award-winning SOLON Black 160/05 in-roof module,which is equipped with an “intelligent” frame and an integrated mounting system made of Bayflex^® polyurethane foam.

A new, modular solar thermal energy system engineered by Bayer MaterialScience and partners combines a heat-generating solar air collector with an optimised thermal insulation system. The solar air collectors are constructed from multi-wall sheets made of a newly developed, high temperature-resistant grade of Makrolon^® polycarbonate, and are installed on a roof-like roof shingles/tiles.

Cold air flows into the profiles along the eaves, is warmed by the sun, rises and collects at the roof ridge. The warm air generated in this way can be used for room heating or for heating domestic water by means of a heat exchanger.

The sheets consist of a black-pigmented, glass-fiber-reinforced underside,which functions as an absorbent layer, and a transparent, convex upper surface with a co-extruded UV protective layer. Insulation made from rigid polyurethane foam laid under the sheets prevents thermal bridges and ensures that only a small amount of heat energy is lost through the roof.

Lightness and strength are the key elements in increasing the efficiency of wind power generators. Currently, wind turbines can only be operated stably with rotors measuring up to about 60-m long. More electrical energy could be obtained by enlarging the rotors.

Baytubes^® carbon nanotubes are significantly stronger than steel, but so light that they are ideally suited for manufacturing longer rotor blades, for example in combination with epoxy resins.

The Multitec^® polyurethane spray system is an economical solution for manufacturing the housings of wind turbine nacelles. In cooperation with RLE International, the production process has been improved considerably. The housing deadens the sound of the gear mechanism and shows long-term resistance to weathering from the wind, rain and UV radiation. To protect wind turbines from corrosion, Bayer MaterialScience has developed special coating raw materials based on polyaspartics, which are eco-friendly and economical.

More information is available from: www.bayermaterialscience.com