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:
- Characterization tests
- Icephobicity & durability tests
- Ageing & validation tests
- 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.
