TFC provide a ring of confidence for green energy

TFC have been working closely with two leading German manufacturers of wind farm technology by supplying Smalley retaining rings for use in their wind turbines.

Demands made by the European Union on governments to increase the use of natural energy by 20% will mean that many countries will be looking at investing in tested 'green' technologies to replace carbon burning fuels and less efficient systems.

The retaining rings main function is to hold the rotor bearing in position in the turbine. The TFC Smalley retaining rings offered the client many advantages over the alternative DIN retaining rings. The DIN rings were limited to 100mm diameter and often needed specialist tooling. The TFC Smalley retaining ring is available in varying sizes up to 480mm in diameter with a three week short order lead-in and requires no tooling.

Made from extremely durable alloys including Hastolloy, which is impervious to salt water conditions, and Elgiloy which is extremely resilient in high temperature environments, makes the TFC Smalley retaining ring the ideal choice for the hostile locations many wind farms are located in.
Another benefit of the sea based wind farms is the ability to produce drinkable water from salt water using the turbine technology. With global warming a recognised threat and many countries facing the yearly prospect of drought or water restrictions, the technology could prove the answer to a growing problem.

The TFC Smalley retaining ring adds flexibility to design with an increased range of available diameters and ring end configurations all of which can be supplied at short notice.