PARIS, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At JEC
Composites, the world's largest trade show for composite
materials, global reinforcement producer Owens Corning (NYSE: OC)
is showcasing the company's XStrand® high-performance glass fibers
that will be used in a project demonstrating how modern composite
technology can enable ocean thermal energy power generation, which
has the potential to join wind as a major source of renewable
energy.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded a
cooperative agreement contract to Lockheed Martin to demonstrate a
pipe fabrication approach using modern composite technology and
manufacturing methods at both prototype and pilot plant scales.
Lockheed Martin has contracted Owens Corning to provide its
XStrand® high-strength glass fiber reinforcements for use in the
large-diameter cold-water pipe that will be required to reach ocean
depths of thousands of feet.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) generates electricity by
exploiting the temperature difference between warm surface water
and deep cold water. The temperature difference is used to drive a
Rankine cycle operating with a low-boiling-point fluid. Warm
surface water passes through a heat exchanger, vaporizing the
fluid, which drives a turbine generator, producing electricity. The
process is free of global warming emissions and does not require
any external fuel source.
Dennis Cooper, OTEC program
manager for Lockheed Martin, said OTEC holds the promise of
providing clean, base-load electricity to energy markets that today
rely almost exclusively on fossil fuels. "It's conceivable, for
example," explained Cooper, "that OTEC could enable Hawaii achieve energy independence within a
generation. Our independent research and development work to date
has shown OTEC to be technically feasible. The next step is to
demonstrate it on a commercial scale and the DOE contract will help
accelerate our progress toward that goal."
Since the ocean's temperature difference is relatively small,
large volumes of sea water must be moved to generate commercial
levels of power. The fabrication and installation of large-diameter
coldwater piping represents one of the largest technical challenges
to the successful installation and operation of an offshore
OTEC system.
"This is another exciting application of composite technology in
renewable energy," said Marcio
Sandri, Americas vice president and managing director for
the Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business. "Composite
materials already enable cost-effective fabrication of blades for
wind turbines. With high-strength glass fiber reinforcements
enabling the continuous production of tough, corrosion-resistant
large-diameter pipe at sea directly from a floating platform, OTEC
can become another viable method for obtaining energy from
renewable sources."
Under terms of the $1.2 million DOE cooperative agreement,
Lockheed Martin will demonstrate a cold water pipe fabrication
approach using modern fiberglass technology and innovative
composite manufacturing methods. Fabrication work will be performed
at Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Center in Sunnyvale, Calif. West
Virginia University's Constructed Facilities Center is also
supporting the project.
To support the project's early development work, Owens Corning
performed fatigue and corrosion testing at its Science and
Technology Center in Granville,
Ohio, as well as provided quantities of XStrand®
high-performance reinforcements and small composite components for
aggressive performance testing. The company also worked closely
with Lockheed Martin engineers to develop three special fabric
designs for the project.
"OTEC will be an eye-opening demonstration of the potential of
composite materials," added Sandri. "Manufacturing large-diameter
pipe directly from a floating platform will expand the definition
of on-site fabrication, which is already a familiar practice for
composites. The power and caustic effects of ocean water are also
well known and make this a great application for the strength and
corrosion resistance of composites.
"This project is in illustration of our commitment to working
with customers to develop new applications," added Sandri. "The
world desperately needs a diversified portfolio of renewable energy
and the composites industry can help make that possible by working
together on development projects like this one."
For more about how Lockheed Martin is addressing energy and
climate challenges, visit:
www.lockheedmartin.com/capabilities/energy/
For more about XStrand® high-performance glass fiber
reinforcements from OCV™ Reinforcements, visit:
http://www.ocvreinforcements.com/page/hp.asp
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD,
Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about
140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
The corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2
billion. Additional information is available at
www.lockheedmartin.com.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a leading global producer of glass fiber
reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems and
residential and commercial building materials. A Fortune 500
company for 55 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to
driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming
markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning had
sales of $4.8 billion in 2009 and
about 16,000 employees in 28 countries on five continents. OCV™
Reinforcements, OCV™ Technical Fabrics and OCV™ Non-Woven
Technologies are the three main business units that make up the
Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business. The business delivers a
broad range of reinforcement products that provide lightweight
alternatives to steel, wood and aluminum, thereby reducing weight
and improving energy efficiency. Additional information is
available at www.owenscorning.com.
SOURCE Owens Corning