Title: Shaping the future design and manufacturing of a composite rotor blade for multi-megawatt wind turbines

Authors: Brahim Attaf

Addresses: CMS Ecotechnology, 39 Blvd. Charles Moretti, 13014 Marseille, France

Abstract: Given that wind energy is a key solution in fighting against global warming emissions arising from human activities, the interest for developing more powerful wind turbines has become nowadays a challenging area to research and innovation for the wind-turbine industry worldwide. As the electric power supplied by the wind turbine is directly related to the size of its blades: the larger the size of blades the more energy is captured, new design and manufacturing strategies of these critical components, using advanced fibre-reinforced composites such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and resin transfer moulding (RTM) process, have become a major focus for manufacturers and competitors of wind turbines. In this perspective, the outcomes presented in this paper can be exploited by the modern wind turbine industry with the aim of developing reliable, efficient and cost-effective rotor blades that are capable to withstand, without adverse effects, severe static and/or dynamic loading to which they may be exposed during their lifetime. As part of long-term strategic plans, CNTs offer the required criteria to help researchers design and manufacture 200 m rotor blades for 50 MW turbines.

Keywords: wind energy; composite blade; nanomaterials; carbon nanotubes; CNTs; closed moulding; sustainable development; renewable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSSS.2017.088051

International Journal of Digital Signals and Smart Systems, 2017 Vol.1 No.2, pp.99 - 112

Received: 15 Dec 2016
Accepted: 31 Jan 2017
Published online: 20 Nov 2017 *

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