CLIENT NEEDS

Cold climate installations face icing problems which result in:

  • Reduced energy generated due aero losses caused by ice buildup.
  • Unplanned stoppages due to excessive ice buildup.

CLIENT OBJECTIVES

The client required WhatNext to provide them with:

  • Active or passive de-icing solutions that can increase the up time of wind turbines.
  • Preference towards passive solutions as active solutions is deemed as not very reliable & generally require significant energy to operate.
  • The solution must also be highly erosion resistant due to high wing tip blade speeds

KEY BUSSINESS OUTCOMES

  • An icephobic surface treatment & coating system originally developed for de-icing the leading edge of aircrafts was finally selected and deployed.
  • This system was also erosion tested for extreme weather elements (i.e., large rain droplets, ice & sand).

KEY BUSINESS IMPACT

  • Our client got the technology deployed in-production within 18months from their first engagement with the WhatNext team.
  • The entire technology & know-how transfer (including deal finalization) was completely handled by WhatNext.
The expert that they found now advises our board and management team. They got me connected in a week and delivered my project in just a few weeks.

Sr Vice President – M&A

A Global Oil Major

OUR APPROACH & METHODOLOGY

Expert Project Team Deployment

  • For the client’s specific business objective, from its Expert Network, WhatNext selected and deployed an Expert with a background in de-icing solutions.

Customised Business Objective service through WhatNext Platform

  • The Expert consulted with seven other experts that were part of the WhatNext Network.
  • He combined the insight gathered from the exchange of opinions within the expert network and combined that with the analyses of patent literature, product data sheets & technical research papers to come out with a long list of 12 relevant technology offerings.
  • Based on consultations with the client, a final list of three technologies was selected for next-level feasibility studies.

Technology Due Diligence and Evaluation Plan

  • For each of the technologies shortlisted, the expert along with companies selected from WhatNext’s technology adoption enabler network conducted detailed feasibility studies covering:
    1. Characterization tests
    2. Icephobicity & durability tests
    3. Ageing & validation tests
    4. The final report on coatings recommended
  • This was followed by process optimization for the actual blades of our client.
  • The final solution selected and deployed was an icephobic surface treatment & coating system originally developed for de-icing the leading edge of aircraft.
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