Renewable-Energy

Solar thermal systems use tubes and manifolds that need deep hole drilling. The work is similar to general heat exchanger tube drilling with some material-specific considerations. Over the years, I have drilled components for parabolic trough collectors, flat plate collectors, and central receiver tower systems. Each design brings its own drilling challenges. The main components are collector tubes and distribution manifolds. Collector tubes carry heat transfer fluid and are typically made from copper or stainless steel. The manifolds that connect multiple collector tubes need drilled passages for fluid distribution. I have also worked on header boxes that distribute fluid to arrays of collectors, which require multiple cross-drilled ports at precise angles. The precision of these ports affects the flow balance across the collector array. ...

Wind turbine manufacturing is a growing source of deep hole drilling work. The gearboxes, main shafts, and structural frames for wind turbines are large components that need precise bores and drilled channels. I’ve worked on components for onshore and offshore wind turbines. The scale is similar to oil and gas work — large parts in high-strength materials with tight tolerances. Gearbox Components Wind turbine gearboxes are massive — some weigh 20 tons or more. They need drilled holes for lubrication passages, cooling channels, and bearing seats. The typical material is high-strength alloy steel, often case-hardened for wear resistance. ...