Texas’ Windthorst-1 ready for next phase

A family owned Texas wind development company and a New York community wind developer have completed their portion of work on a 51-MW wind-power project in Windthorst, Texas. OwnEnergy Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y. (ownenergy.net) and Horn Wind (hornwind.com) located outside of Dallas, developed the project as a joint venture and have subsequently sold a majority stake to a global renewable energy company. The next step in the project is to secure a power purchase agreement so the electricity it produces can be sold to area utilities.

“Horn Wind managed the early stages of the development, such as locating the site and its assessment, while

The community wind farm Windthorst-1 will be sprouting turbines soon. It’s one of 26 projects under development by community wind developer OwnEnergy Inc.

OwnEnergy worked on later stage development tasks such as environmental and wind-resource assessments, major equipment BOP services procurement, and financing,” says OwnEnergy’s VP of Development, Cynthia Crooks. Although the two development firms sold their interest in Windthorst-1 when credit markets tightened, they will work together on a second wind project, Windthorst-2, and look forward to a longer involvement, all the way to wind turbine construction.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned on this project, it’s that developers should not overlook good wind areas close to population centers. Texas’ best wind areas are in the west and central parts of the state, some distance away. But there are still good areas, like Windthorst-1, close to those who need the power.”

She says the project was developed in keeping with the central tenets of community wind. “That is, increased local jobs, greater involvement, and control and financial upside for members of the community. This commitment was maintained through the sale of the asset as OwnEnergy and Horn Wind retain a long-term interest in the project.”

Crooks says her company encourages the shift towards smaller-scale, locally-owned renewable energy projects by making use of resources, networks, and industry expertise to guide and support local entrepreneurs through the complex process of project development. By forming long-term partnerships with landowners and local developers to jointly develop commercial-scale wind projects, the company creates local jobs, spurs economic growth, and provides communities with clean, renewable sources of energy they can call their own. OwnEnergy usually develops utility-scale wind projects of 10 to 80 MW for commercial purposes and using utility scale wind turbines, 1.5 MW and above. OwnEnergy and partners have 26 projects under development across 12 states.

“This is the first of five regional wind projects we’re developing,” says Horn Wind President Jimmy Horn. “Moving this project to the next stage lets the company continue to grow and support our local landowners and communities.”

The Windthorst-1 project, just outside of Greater Dallas, is in the ERCOT (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, a grid operator for most of the state) North Zone. ERCOT manages electric power to 22 million Texas customers, about 85% of the state’s electric load and 75% of the Texas land area. It is an independent system operator that schedules power on an electric grid connecting 40,000 miles of transmission lines and more than 550 generation units. WPE

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Texas’ Windthorst-1 ready for next phase

A family owned Texas wind development company and a New York community wind developer have completed their portion of work on a 51-MW wind-power project in Windthorst, Texas. OwnEnergy Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y. (ownenergy.net) and Horn Wind (hornwind.com) located outside of Dallas, developed the project as a joint venture and have subsequently sold a majority stake to a global renewable energy company. The next step in the project is to secure a power purchase agreement so the electricity it produces can be sold to area utilities.

“Horn Wind managed the early stages of the development, such as locating the site and its assessment, while

The community wind farm Windthorst-1 will be sprouting turbines soon. It’s one of 26 projects under development by community wind developer OwnEnergy Inc.

OwnEnergy worked on later stage development tasks such as environmental and wind-resource assessments, major equipment BOP services procurement, and financing,” says OwnEnergy’s VP of Development, Cynthia Crooks. Although the two development firms sold their interest in Windthorst-1 when credit markets tightened, they will work together on a second wind project, Windthorst-2, and look forward to a longer involvement, all the way to wind turbine construction.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned on this project, it’s that developers should not overlook good wind areas close to population centers. Texas’ best wind areas are in the west and central parts of the state, some distance away. But there are still good areas, like Windthorst-1, close to those who need the power.”

She says the project was developed in keeping with the central tenets of community wind. “That is, increased local jobs, greater involvement, and control and financial upside for members of the community. This commitment was maintained through the sale of the asset as OwnEnergy and Horn Wind retain a long-term interest in the project.”

Crooks says her company encourages the shift towards smaller-scale, locally-owned renewable energy projects by making use of resources, networks, and industry expertise to guide and support local entrepreneurs through the complex process of project development. By forming long-term partnerships with landowners and local developers to jointly develop commercial-scale wind projects, the company creates local jobs, spurs economic growth, and provides communities with clean, renewable sources of energy they can call their own. OwnEnergy usually develops utility-scale wind projects of 10 to 80 MW for commercial purposes and using utility scale wind turbines, 1.5 MW and above. OwnEnergy and partners have 26 projects under development across 12 states.

“This is the first of five regional wind projects we’re developing,” says Horn Wind President Jimmy Horn. “Moving this project to the next stage lets the company continue to grow and support our local landowners and communities.”

The Windthorst-1 project, just outside of Greater Dallas, is in the ERCOT (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, a grid operator for most of the state) North Zone. ERCOT manages electric power to 22 million Texas customers, about 85% of the state’s electric load and 75% of the Texas land area. It is an independent system operator that schedules power on an electric grid connecting 40,000 miles of transmission lines and more than 550 generation units. WPE

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A safer way to inspect turbine blades

Power Climber Wind works with leading wind turbine OEMs, owners, and service companies to develop safe, reliable platforms, rigging equipment, and work procedures to make up-tower work more efficient than previously possible. For most blade inspections, maintenance, and repair operations, suspended platforms offer a safe, productive, and cost-effective alternative to cranes, man baskets, and rappelling equipment. This custom platform locks to the tower to provide a more stable work area than other methods, even at its full 20-ft (6.2-m) extension and in maximum-rated wind speeds. The scope of supply includes securing UL and CUL certification of the system to UL 1322, multi-state onsite installation supervision, operator training, and competent-person certification. Platform serviceability means removable components are easily accessible for faster platform main-tenance. These also make the platform simpler to transport from site to site. A few benefits include improved worker awareness to safety, it maintains OSHA compliance, cuts downtime from operator errors, and prevents damage to structures from equipment misuse.

Power Climber Wind

powerclimberwind.com

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No wear surfaces on this brake

MagnaShear motor brakes work by shearing oil for longer service life even in demanding applications. Compressing a fluid shears its molecules– thus imparting torque to a stationary side. The brake eliminates the wear of friction surfaces. A fluid recirculator dissipates heat, a common problem in dry braking systems. Eliminating wear significantly increases service life and almost eliminates adjustments. Oil shearing provides a smooth “cushioned” stop which reduces shock to the drive system, further extending service life of downstream components. The motor brakes work well in applications where the motor reverses, such as yaw motors.

The enclosed MagnaShear brakes are impervious to moisture, dirt, and dust. The design uses a layer of automatic transmission fluid between brake disc and drive plate. Along with heat removal and torque, the fluid serves to continually lubricate all components. MagnaShear brakes provide significantly longer service life than conventional designs and are characterized by virtually maintenance-free operations. These motor brakes accommodate a wide range of applications. Spring-set-torque ratings are available from 3 to 1,250 ft-lb. The brakes can be sized to a torque independent of the motor-frame size or horsepower.

Force Control Industries Inc.

forcecontrol.com

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Oil Dangers Migrate from the Gulf to Great Lakes

The  “Summer of Slick” raged on last weekend when another oil spill of record proportions struck the small town Marshall, Michigan. While the BP oil spill officially sets the world record for the worst accidental oil spill in history, an Enbridge pipeline running from Ontario, Canada through southern Michigan on its way to Chicago-land is now responsible for the worst spill in Midwest history.

Enbridge Inc., which, among other things, operates the world’s longest crude oil and liquids pipeline located in Canada and the United States (Wikipedia), also deals in green energy. The company is currently constructing North America’s largest photovoltaic installation with First Solar in Sarnia, Ontario, CA.

Partially-owned subsidiary Enbridge Energy Partners owns and operates the leaky underground pipeline in Michigan.

However, the 80 megawatts of clean solar energy the Sarnia Solar Project will eventually produce are currently clouded by the more than 800,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into a creek in Marshall, MI. That creek runs to the Kalamazoo River, which runs westward to Lake Michigan.

Unsurprisingly in these days of jaded realism about the oil industry, Enbridge’s response to the spill has been called into question. Governor Jennifer Granholm has received loud complaints about government and company reaction to the leak, which by Monday had spilled oil over a dam less than 60 miles from Lake Michigan. “The situation is very serious,” Granholm said in response to promises that more resources would be sent to stop the flow of oil. “The new resources that have been provided so far are wholly inadequate,” she added.

The smell of oil is reportedly quite strong in the Marshall area, as residents are being warned to stay away from the Kalamazoo river. No boating, swimming or fishing is allowed. That smell is also highly toxic due to the high levels of benzene in crude oil. The presence of a strong odor is another reason locals are questioning Enbridge’s response to the spill. One resident reported smelling the strong odor of oil on Sunday morning while heading into Marshall for groceries, yet Enbridge did not report detection of the spill until about 10:30 a.m. the following day (KBOO Community Radio).

Whether Enbridge’s negligence is criminal in nature, as evidence in the Gulf against BP suggests, or not, the Enbridge spill is even further evidence of our need to ween off fossil fuels. Let’s also remember the Chevron oil spill in Utah less than two months ago. And let’s hope that the Summer of Slick ends soon. And hope that endless summers of solar power and other renewable resources follow in its wake.

Author’s Note: This story is especially close to me, as I grew up in Calhoun County, Michigan, near the city of Kalamazoo. I actually held one of my first jobs in high school at a restaurant in the town of Marshall and have swam, fished and canoed down the Kalamazoo River. My heart goes out to those affected by yet another oil spill and I sincerely hope that officials and/or Enbridge are able to stop the flow of oil before it hits Lake Michigan, one of the country’s most beautiful coastlines (also very fun to swim in!). Cheers to Michigan for the state’s attempts to improve its renewable energy portfolio in recent years and may this travesty serve to accelerate that momentum.

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Global Earth Energy, Inc. Installs First Solar Car Wash System With Skogies Car Washes of Canada
WILMINGTON, NC–(Marketwire – August 4, 2010) -  Global Earth Energy, Inc. (OTCBB: GLER) announced today that its subsidiary, RCI Solar, has installed its first solar car wash system at Skogies Car Washes of British Columbia, Canada.

Simple ideas can make a big difference — for example, to increase the efficiency of each car wash, by using the energy from the sun, Skogies has increased the water temperature during the soap cycle to better clean each vehicle as it passes through. Not only does it reduce the amount of water required but it also reduces the amount of chemicals necessary for a “clean” vehicle. Naturally this also reduces the amount of energy to maintain the water at a prefect operating temperature. This simple solution saves big dollars in operating cost for Skogies, up to 60% in hot heating costs alone! With average operating costs of over $10,000 per month during peak months, this system can now account for a true return-on-investment.

There are three major reasons why the installation of these new solar hot water heating system is critical in saving money for Skogies. First, the hot water has a degreasing effect that reduces the use of chemicals by over fifty percent — the hotter the water the less amount of chemicals required.

Second, the cost to increase the temperature from 40 degrees as supplied from the utility company to an average of 90 to 120 degrees has been sufficiently reduced by a minimum of sixty percent. The solar array maintains an average of 70 degrees on a typical winter day (even when the thermostat falls below zero). During the spring, summer and fall months, the average temperature is much, much higher and the requirements to use the boilers is drastically reduced.

And third, the flow rate per litre, per minute in the solar circuit produces up to fifty percent more hot water per hour, which is enough to wash twice the amount vehicle in the same amount of time. The solar solution does stop there, in Canada the temperatures can be trying during the winter months with freezing conditions reaching an easy (-20) degrees. The solar loop also feeds the radiant floor heating at the entrance and exit of the cars wash bay to prevent ice build up and reduce accidents as well as other liabilities inherent to their business. Can they do more to save money, yes! Phase two will consider using the heat collected to heat their building as well as for hot water in their customer washrooms.

“The Eco-Energy Solar Car Washes solution saves on energy, chemicals and the environment,” commented a spokesman for Skogies Car Washes, and we are delighted to be able to integrate the solar car wash system into Skogies.

“Going Green is one of the best operational investments a business can make, turning highly variable energy costs into a low, predictable operating expense, turning former utility expenses into profits,” said Syd Harland, CEO of Global Earth Energy, Inc. “We look forward to providing our systems to all Skogies Car Washes in the future.”

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System Pavers® Launches Kianga Solar
NEWPORT BEACH, CA–(Marketwire – August 4, 2010) – With over 50 years combined experience providing innovative solutions for homeowners worldwide, System Pavers Co-founders Larry Green and Doug Lueck have expanded into another groundbreaking new industry — solar power systems. Recently they launched Kianga Solar, a full-service, custom-design solar power provider for residential installation. The family of over 35,000 delighted System Pavers customers can be confident in the new addition — Kianga Solar.

“The decision to take part in such an incredible industry as solar power grew organically,” said System Pavers President Doug Lueck. “After witnessing the development of more efficient energy technologies, we became eager to help this country by increasing energy independence. It is essential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and in turn create greater domestic economic development.”

With increasing electricity rates, solar power systems are the ideal solution. Kianga Solar is now offering a free, $500 value professional engineered analysis and design of each project. They have the ability to preplan each system with industry leading software, and are not limited to one manufacturer or name brand, meaning they will always install top quality panels at the lowest pricing. As a full-service solar provider, Kianga Solar will handle all the confusing paperwork processing, planning permits and rebates to guarantee their customers swift, hassle-free service.

“I researched solar companies and had five reputable businesses visit my home to assess and quote. Four walked away saying my roof was ‘too difficult’ to install solar panels,” said Mark Raissen, Kianga Solar customer. “The team at Kianga Solar successfully engineered a solution. Thank you for your expertise, ingenuity and professionalism.”

Major advances in solar power have brought the vision of self-sustained communities to a reality. Solar power, or the science of absorbing life-generating solar rays from the sun and converting them into electrical power, holds many benefits for families and communities who utilize this exciting technology. Kianga Solar primarily serves the southern California region and is looking to expand within the greater western region in the near future.

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AUO’s Solar Reliability Lab Certified by UL Witness Test Data Program
 HSINCHU, Taiwan, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ — AU Optronics Corp. (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE:  AUO) announced today that its PV QRA Lab in Taichung officially acquired the UL Witness Test Data Program (UL WTDP) lab certification. The Company’s lab is the first in Taiwan with four certification marks for professional testing (IEC 61215, IEC 61646, IEC 61730 and UL 1703).

UL WTDP is the Witnessed Test Data Program conducted by UL, a global leader for product safety testing and certification. Having passed the assessment of UL WTDP, manufacturers could then have tests conducted at the certified test facilities under the supervision of UL personnel. This allows schedules to be easily maintained and information reviewed readily on-site.

As it is necessary for solar-related components and modules to achieve at least 25 years of power performance, AUO has invested around three million U.S. dollars when entering the solar business to set up a reliability lab for the testing of product function and durability under extreme weather conditions. “We are glad that AUO’s solar reliability lab acquired the UL WTDP lab certification, proving the Company’s professional capabilities in solar product testing,” said James C.P. Chen, Senior Associate Vice President of Solar Photovoltaic Business Unit. “The lab will be able to conduct over 33 kinds of tests, all conforming to UL and IEC regulations. This demonstrates that AUO owns world-class testing capabilities, equipment and lab,” he added.

Having become a UL WTDP certified lab, AUO will be able to perform certification tests including UL1703, IEC 61215, IEC 61646 and IEC 61730. The difficulties in transporting large-sized solar products will also be overcome, as the products could then be sent to the certified professional testing facilities. More time would be saved in terms of scheduling, transportation and testing. Risks and cost are reduced as well during the transportation of the samples. In addition, complete testing information could be collected readily on-site for further analysis. The professional personnel and testing facilities at AUO’s solar reliability lab serve not only the Company to accelerate its R&D process, but also customers who will be able to enjoy the efficient and convenient services.

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New Encapsulant by Solutia Combats Module Corrosion
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Solutia Inc. (NYSE:  SOA) , the only global one-stop source for EVA, TPU, and PVB based solar encapsulants, announces an advanced encapsulant designed to prevent corrosion in solar cells. The new encapsulant, branded as Saflex® PS41 PVB, also inhibits discoloration, making it an ideal module encapsulant for use in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

“Metal electromigration, has long been a reliability concern in the electronics industry,” comments Francois Koran, Solutia Photovoltaic Development Manager. “It’s highly problematic for the photovoltaic market as well because of panel discoloration.”

Metal electromigration is an electrochemical process where metal (e.g., silver), in contact with an insulating material in a humid environment and under an applied electric field, migrates into the insulating material. The net result of metal migration can be either a reduction in insulation resistance or a short circuit which may lead to circuit failure. For solar applications, module manufacturers are concerned that metal migration will affect the long term performance of solar modules which have life expectancies of twenty to thirty years.

Modules designed for use in architectural applications (BIPV) are particularly sensitive to metal migration as any discoloration in the solar module is a critical concern for architects, designers, and module manufacturers. Discoloration in this case would undermine the aesthetic appearance of a building and bring to question the reliability and performance of the solar modules.

Saflex PS41 is the first solar PVB encapsulant designed specifically to protect against metal migration and maintain the original aesthetics of the solar module. The key to this patent-pending technology is the ability of this encapsulant to prevent electromigration when in contact with certain metals such as silver, nickel, and vanadium. It is often the presence of these oxides that leads to module discoloration.

Silver, for example, is a widely used metal in solar cell stacks and conductive adhesives. Elemental analysis shows reduced silver levels in Saflex PS41 compared to other standard encapsulants. “In terms of performance reliability, Saflex PS41 performs exceptionally well,” continues Koran. “As for discoloration, the module samples with PS41 compared to standard encapsulants speak for themselves.”  Saflex PS41 is IEC certified, RoHS approved and UL recognized.

Solutia is the world’s only single source supplier of EVA, TPU and PVB solar encapsulants. With more than 100 years of combined encapsulation process expertise and a track record of rapid innovation, Solutia is uniquely positioned to provide expert analysis and cutting-edge solutions to the worlds leading solar energy companies. To learn more, please go to www.solutia.com/PS41 .

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SunPower Completes Largest Solar Power Tracking System in Australia
BELMONT, Western Australia, Aug. 4  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB), a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and solar systems, today announced it has completed a 505-kilowatt solar power installation for Horizon Power, a government-owned utility providing power to remote and regional communities and resource operations in Western Australia.

The ground-mounted SunPower T20 Tracker installation is located on two sites, Marble Bar and Nullagine in the east Pilbara region of Western Australia, and was commissioned earlier this year.  It is the largest solar tracking system in Australia, and powers the world’s first high penetration, hybrid solar-diesel power stations.  The power stations will generate approximately 1,048 megawatt hours of solar energy per year and will produce 60 percent to 90 percent of daily electricity needs.  This project is supported by the Australian Government through the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program and implemented by the Office of Energy in Western Australia.

“SunPower is proud to deliver Australia’s first and largest T20 tracker installation, generating clean, renewable solar power for Horizon Power,” said Bob Blakiston, managing director of SunPower Australia.  “We also congratulate Horizon Power for being honored by the Western Australia Sustainable Energy Association with the Outstanding Achievement in Excellence and Innovation Award for its insight in bringing solar power to regional and remote areas of the country.”

The system utilizes SunPower solar panels, the most efficient solar panels on the market today, with the SunPower T20 Tracker® system. The T20 Tracker follows the sun’s movement during the day, increasing sunlight capture by up to 30 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land use requirements.  Worldwide, SunPower has more than 550 megawatts of solar power systems installed or under contract, including more than 200 megawatts of operational power plants in Europe.

SunPower will be exhibiting at the ATRAA Conference being held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre from August 4 through 7.  Blakiston will deliver a presentation on August 5 at 11:50 a.m. on the topic, “Developing Large Scale Solar.”

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GoSolarUSA to Acquire Exclusive Worldwide Rights to New Solar Furnace Technology
NEW ORLEANS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GoSolarUSA Inc. (PinkSheets: GSLO) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the exclusive worldwide rights to a new, patent pending, solar heating technology. The Company believes this new technology could revolutionize the solar industry by providing a practical method of delivering forced air heat to homes in cold climates using solar energy.
   
Forced air heating systems are used in 35 Million homes in the United Sates. It is the most common type of heating system in US homes. Forced air furnaces generally run on fossil fuels such as natural gas, fuel oil and propane. They distribute warm air by blowing it through ducts.

GSLO’s new “Solar Forced Air Furnace” will be designed to easily adapt to existing systems in these 35 Million homes to reduce heating costs and to provide a low-cost, “green” energy source to replace oil and gas.

“We are excited to have acquired this new, revolutionary US technology that has the potential to reduce energy costs and replace oil & gas in millions of homes across America,” noted GSLO President Thomas Massey. “This is a huge, untapped market that spends thousands of dollars every year on heating costs. We believe millions of Americans will welcome a technology that will reduce their energy costs and give them a green energy alternative to oil & gas heating,” he concluded.

GoSolarUSA aggressively acquires, develops and markets the most promising and potentially profitable American technology possible. The GoSolarUSA mission is to manifest cutting edge American solar technology and manufacturing advances to successfully compete in a global marketplace, which includes Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) and Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ).

For more information on the Company see: www.GoSolarUSA.com.

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Solar Manufacturing Receives Order for New Large Horizontal Vacuum Furnace
SOUDERTON, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Solar Manufacturing announces it has received an order for a large horizontal vacuum furnace from a major high purity metals and alloy producer serving the aerospace, aircraft and medical industries. Primary application for the furnace will be a dehydriding process.  

The furnace is a Solar Manufacturing Model HFL-6660-EQ horizontal, front loading design with a work zone that measures 42” wide x 42” high x 60” deep and a gross weight capacity of 5,000 pounds. “The hot zone will incorporate a combination graphite foil hot face, backed by high purity graphite felt and high purity alumina wool for operation up to 2400oF,” said Peter Reh, vice president of sales. “The thin, curved graphite elements will provide rapid heating and the incorporation of unique high velocity, graphite gas nozzles surrounding the work will provide for optimum, uniform cooling of the specified load. In addition, a large vacuum pumping system along with a 35” high vacuum diffusion pump will allow for operation to 10-5 Torr,” he explained.

Solar Manufacturing is part of Solar Atmospheres, Inc., one of the largest and most progressive, independent commercial heat treaters in the USA. To learn more about Solar Manufacturing’s diverse product line of vacuum heat treating, brazing, and carburizing furnaces, contact Peter Reh, vice president of sales, at 267-384-5040 x 509 or pkr@solarmfg.com. More information can also be found on www.solarmfg.com.

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Solar Manufacturing Receives Order for New Large Horizontal Vacuum Furnace
SOUDERTON, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Solar Manufacturing announces it has received an order for a large horizontal vacuum furnace from a major high purity metals and alloy producer serving the aerospace, aircraft and medical industries. Primary application for the furnace will be a dehydriding process.  

The furnace is a Solar Manufacturing Model HFL-6660-EQ horizontal, front loading design with a work zone that measures 42” wide x 42” high x 60” deep and a gross weight capacity of 5,000 pounds. “The hot zone will incorporate a combination graphite foil hot face, backed by high purity graphite felt and high purity alumina wool for operation up to 2400oF,” said Peter Reh, vice president of sales. “The thin, curved graphite elements will provide rapid heating and the incorporation of unique high velocity, graphite gas nozzles surrounding the work will provide for optimum, uniform cooling of the specified load. In addition, a large vacuum pumping system along with a 35” high vacuum diffusion pump will allow for operation to 10-5 Torr,” he explained.

Solar Manufacturing is part of Solar Atmospheres, Inc., one of the largest and most progressive, independent commercial heat treaters in the USA. To learn more about Solar Manufacturing’s diverse product line of vacuum heat treating, brazing, and carburizing furnaces, contact Peter Reh, vice president of sales, at 267-384-5040 x 509 or pkr@solarmfg.com. More information can also be found on www.solarmfg.com.

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Solar Manufacturing Receives Order for New Large Horizontal Vacuum Furnace
SOUDERTON, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Solar Manufacturing announces it has received an order for a large horizontal vacuum furnace from a major high purity metals and alloy producer serving the aerospace, aircraft and medical industries. Primary application for the furnace will be a dehydriding process.  

The furnace is a Solar Manufacturing Model HFL-6660-EQ horizontal, front loading design with a work zone that measures 42” wide x 42” high x 60” deep and a gross weight capacity of 5,000 pounds. “The hot zone will incorporate a combination graphite foil hot face, backed by high purity graphite felt and high purity alumina wool for operation up to 2400oF,” said Peter Reh, vice president of sales. “The thin, curved graphite elements will provide rapid heating and the incorporation of unique high velocity, graphite gas nozzles surrounding the work will provide for optimum, uniform cooling of the specified load. In addition, a large vacuum pumping system along with a 35” high vacuum diffusion pump will allow for operation to 10-5 Torr,” he explained.

Solar Manufacturing is part of Solar Atmospheres, Inc., one of the largest and most progressive, independent commercial heat treaters in the USA. To learn more about Solar Manufacturing’s diverse product line of vacuum heat treating, brazing, and carburizing furnaces, contact Peter Reh, vice president of sales, at 267-384-5040 x 509 or pkr@solarmfg.com. More information can also be found on www.solarmfg.com.

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