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Increasing power plant productivity to cover the ever-rising demand for energy

The world’s largest producers of power generation equipment build on Oerlikon advanced materials, functional coatings or process technologies to improve performance and cut the environmental impact of energy generation systems.

Increasing power plant productivity  to cover the ever-rising demand for energy
Increasing power plant productivity  to cover the ever-rising demand for energy
Increasing power plant productivity  to cover the ever-rising demand for energy

Energy. Every day you use it, consciously or unconsciously. When you watch TV. When you work on your computer. When you turn on a light. When you charge your phone. By 2030, global primary energy consumption is expected to rise by up to 40%. Propelled by this growth, the energy sector will continue to expand.

Enabling the way to effectively generate energy.

The spiraling demand for energy and the threat of climate change, combined with decreasing costs of renewable energy sources, are transforming the energy sector. Energy companies are racing to meet demand. But also to improve the efficiency of conventional technologies like oil or gas. And to promote renewable energy technologies like solar or wind turbines.

The industry needs new materials to achieve these goals. Oerlikon has the answers. For example, equipped and treated with our technologies, turbines last longer and perform more efficiently and reliably. Recently, our products improved the wear resistance of steam turbine components by a factor of 25. But we still have more to achieve. With hundreds of researchers and universities around the world, we are working to create advanced solutions for a new energy future.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen
Electrolyzers, fuel cells

As an escalating number of corporations and governments pledge to achieve "Net Zero" emissions, the significance of Green Hydrogen is on the rise. This form of hydrogen is environmentally friendly, being carbon-neutral, and is generated through electrolysis powered by sustainable energy sources like solar and wind. Utilizing hydrogen as an energy carrier enables the storage and transportation of energy from areas with abundant energy resources to regions with substantial energy needs, even over hundreds of kilometers. This energy can then be employed for electricity generation, combustion, or various chemical reactions.

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Wind turbines

Wind turbines
Planetary gear elements, roller bearings, ring gears, shafts, pylons, blades

Wind power installations have to work in sun, rain, snow and wind. Those located offshore must also contend with salt, which poses a constant threat of corrosion. A standstill incurs enormous costs. Our dedicated materials and surface solutions guard against wear, corrosion and fatigue. One example is transmission gears, which are subjected to up to 144 million revolutions of the rotor shaft, or 15 billion revolutions of the generator shaft, during their service life.

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Hydro turbines

Hydro turbines
Blades, vanes, sleeves, bearings, wheels, cranks, pins, needle spears, nozzle tips

Hydropower is the primary renewable energy source used to generate electricity. Corrosion and erosion cause efficiency losses that are worsened by the amount of entrained silt, sand and gravel in the water. Oerlikon materials and coating technologies for hydropower turbine components reduce material erosion by a factor of up to 50 and increase the service life of components three to five times compared to uncoated components.

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Gas and steam turbines

Gas and steam turbines
Blades, vanes, combustion chambers, connecting studs, seal segments

Parts in the turbofan, compressor, combustor, turbine and exhaust section all benefit from Oerlikon technologies: everything from blades, vanes and shrouds to shafts, disks, bearings and nozzles. For example, PVD-coated compressor blades last twice as long as uncoated versions. Abradable coatings for clearance control increase efficiency by up to 5%. Thermal barrier coatings protect against heat. And Oerlikon-manufactured turbine components enhance sealing and cooling.

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Oil and gas

Oil and gas
Drill collars, mud motor rotors, drill stabilizers, tricone bits, ball and gate valves, riser tensioners, mandrels

Some of the harshest stresses and strains are found in the world of oil and gas exploration: abrasive wear, erosion, corrosion, fatigue, high fluid pressure, vibrations, impact loads, extreme torque and many more. To protect vital components, Oerlikon developed tailored materials combined with thin-film and thick-layer surface solutions. These advanced coatings extend the lifetime of downhole tools, pump parts, valves, drill bits, stabilizers, artificial lift components and mud rotors by up to ten times and reduce malfunctions and downtime.

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Typical applications for the energy sector

Gas and steam turbines
Blades, vanes, combustion chambers, connecting studs, seal segments

Hydro turbines
Blades, vanes, sleeves,  bearings, wheels, cranks, pins, needle spears, nozzle tips

Wind turbines
Planetary gear elements, roller bearings, ring gears, shafts, pylons, blades

Oil and gas
Drill collars, mud motor rotors, drill stabilizers, tricone bits,  ball and gate valves,  riser tensioners, mandrels

Hydrogen
Electrolyzers, fuel cells

Typical applications for the energy sector
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