B08 · Wind Power & Storage
Stainless Steel Plates for Wind and Energy Storage: 316L/304 Selection and 7 Part Lists
In wind and energy storage, we have compiled 7 parts using stainless steel: commonly used 316L / 304 / 2205, with thickness ranging from 0.3–300 mm.
7 parts and material list
| Part / Component | Recommended grade | Size / Thickness | Surface | Main failure modes | Reference standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower cylinder flange/connections | 316L/2205/2507 | Flange thickness 50–300mm | Surface finish/Galvanizing | High cyclic loads and marine atmospheric Cl⁻ lead to fatigue fracture of tower cylinder bolts | GB/T 3280；NB/T 47008；EN 1090；DNV/ABS |
| Cylinder/machine cabin fasteners | A4-70/A4-80/2205/2507 | M8–M64 | Galvanizing/Treatment | Cl⁻ pitting+fillet corrosion+hydrogen embrittlement+fatigue | GB/T 3098.6；ISO 3506；EN 14399 |
| Rungs/platform grid/railings | 304/316L | Grid 3–6mm; rail 1.5–3mm | 2B/non-slip | Marine atmospheric and splash zone corrosion | GB/T 3280；GB 4053.3 |
| Yaw/pitch bearing bushes | 440C/surface-hardened stainless steel | Bushes 10–50mm | Hardened & Polished | Contact Fatigue & Micro-Motion Wear & Corrosion | GB/T 308.1；GB/T 1220 |
| Li-ion Steel Shell/Lid | 304/316L(Preferred for LiFSI System) | Shell Wall 0.3–0.8mm | 2B/Nickel Plated | Electrolyte Corrosion (316L Stainless Steel Resistant to 304 in LiFSI) & Internal Short Circuit | GB/T 3280; GB/T 31467; OEM Specifications |
| Module End Plate/Connectors/Screws | 304/316L/441 | 0.8–3.0mm | 2B/Dielectric Coating | Electrolyte & Cooling Liquid Corrosion & Vibration Fatigue | GB/T 3280；GB/T 3098.6 |
| Flow Battery Stack End Plates/Piping/Storage Tanks | 316L/904L | 2–10mm | 2B/Acid Cleaning | Strong Acid & Strong Base Electrolyte Corrosion | GB/T 3280；ASTM A240 |
Inside isStandard ConfigurationSpecify material based on usage conditions.
Material considerations
- Most common grades used in this industry are 316L (5), 304 (3), and 2205 (2) —— parentheses indicate the number of affected areas, useful for quoting and material procurement.
- Chloride ions and salt are the most common sources of corrosion (pitting, crevice corrosion) (2/7 hits).
- Minimum thickness 0.3–300 mm: Thin plates are mostly formed parts (considering bend rebound and deep drawing cracking), thick plates are mostly welded structures (considering heat input and sensitization).
Common questions
Which stainless steel is used most in wind power and energy storage?
Total count of these 7 components, the top appears to be 316L (5 times), 304 (3 times), 2205 (2 times). Specific to a part still depends on the medium and temperature, for example, stainless steel countertops that come into contact with salt water should switch from 304 to 316L.
What parts are most prone to issues?
By failure description, typical is "Tower Hinges/Fittings for Offshore Wind Turbines": Marine atmosphere Cl⁻ + high cyclic loads → fatigue fracture of tower hinge bolts; recommended grades 316L/2205/2507, thickness range 50–300mm. For this type of condition, specify media concentration, temperature, and cleaning method in the design phase.
How thick should it be?
Thickness ranges from 0.3 to 300 mm. Thin plates consider forming and surface quality, thick plates consider welding and structural strength; different manufacturers may have varying values for the same part, review your drawings or conditions to confirm.
Related materials and adjacent industries
Applications7
Thickness0.3–300mm
Grades300