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A UK (Scotland) SME requests flexible heat retention material for hydraulic hoses

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Reference Number: TRUK20190902001
Publication Date: 10 September 2019

Summary

A UK (Scotland) SME is looking for a flexible heat retention material that can be applied to hydraulic hoses. The material should be rugged and able to retain heat within the hose even in below freezing ambient temperatures. The company is looking to partner preferably via a technology cooperation agreement.

Description

A UK (Scotland) SME is active in the field of operations and maintenance of wind farms carrying out gearbox and hydraulic oil exchanges on operational onshore and offshore wind turbines.



During the oil exchanges 45 degC 320ct gear oil is extracted from the wind turbine gearbox situated in the wind turbine nacelle via the company's own developed pumping equipment and is pumped from the nacelle to ground level via 3/4" 2SN hydraulic hose (up to 150 meter). In colder ambient temperatures this gear oil will cool down in the hose to a point where it is no longer possible to pump the oil as it has become to viscous within the hose and the pumps are then unable to pump the oil.



Therefore the company are looking for a flexible and rugged heat retention material for their hydraulic hoses that enables them to retain the oil temperature within the hose itself.



The company is looking to collaborate via a technology cooperation agreement.

Expertise sought

The company is looking for flexible heat retention material and/or abrasive proof material which can be pulled or wrapped around the 0.75 inch hydraulic hoses currently used. The material would need to prevent heat loss (fluids contained within the hose are at 45 deg C fluid temp) from 150 meter of hydraulic hose in open air. The working environment means that the air may be at below freezing ambient temperatures. 



The product would need to be light weight and flexible for multiple lifting and reeling in and out of the hose from a hose reel and also be able to withstand dragging of the hose i.e. “abrasive proof”.



As an example this material could be a second skin on top of the material used to prevent heat loss if it was not possible to be manufactured of the same single construction.

Requested partner

Industrial or technological partner with a proven know-how of solving similar issues is sought. Partner is expected to understand the issue and identify a suitable technical solution that will provide a flexible and rugged heat retention material for hydraulic hoses that enables them to retain the oil temperature within the hose itself. The companies should collaborate under a technical cooperation agreement with additional support via the INTERREG Co-Innovate scheme. All EEN countries are within scope for this specific profile only.