Unsteady aerodynamics and vortex shedding of a wind turbine blade

The thesis presents an analysis of unsteady vortex shedding and vortex induced vibrations (VIV) on wind turbine blades using a combination of Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (SPIV) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A spanwise uniform blade with a symmetric NACA0021 airfoil section, 0.075 m chord, and 0.4 m span was tested...

Re-use of delaminated composite material from decommissioned wind turbine blades

More and more wind turbines are erecting in the landscape, stemming from the need for sustainable energy. However, less attention is paid to the secondary effects of these wind turbines, more specifically, the wind turbine blades. Wind turbine blades are made of composite material, a material that provides many advantageous properties for the...

Demonstrating re-use of thermoplastic composites originating from wind turbine blades

The goal of this thesis project was to explore how material originating from thermoplastic composite wind turbine blades (TPC WTB) can be reshaped. The insights gained during exploratory activities were used to design a re-use application. The demonstrator model should inspire people to develop other applications and build upon the foundations...

Integrating end-of-life wind turbine blades into a variety of building layers through multiple use cycles – a strategy to maximize the lifetime of wasted materials; a case study in Eemshaven

An increasing massive volume of wind turbine blades are coming to end-of-life in the Netherlands. These components contain mostly fibre-reinforced plastics, which has been banned from landfill and incineration. Since then, companies and institutions have spent their efforts to expand the lifetime of this material by developing a circular wind...

Effect of Hail Impact on Leading Edge Polyurethane Composites

The growing demand for renewable energy has led to significant developments in wind turbine technology. The ever increasing size of turbine blades and their exposure to a variety of environmental factors can affect their annual energy production and service life. Erosion caused by rainfall and hailstones is identified as two of the most...

Aerodynamic Design Optimization of Floating Wind Turbines for In Situ Hydrogen Production

The energy transition towards carbon neutrality requires a rapid electrification of all energy sectors by 2050. In the EU-27, the REPowerEU strategy, initiated in March 2022, is pursuing this target even more ambitiously. However, in order to achieve the aforementioned goals, the increasing demand for green hydrogen will...

Validation of Breathing Modes in Wind Turbine Blade Finite Element Models

Wind energy is a growing industry, and in an effort to reduce costs and increase turbine efficiency, rotor blades are becoming increasingly large in size. To facilitate this effort, the SmartBlades2 research project has designed, built, and tested a set of prototype research blades. As part of the SmartBlades2 project, high sensor density modal...

An Investigation of Dynamic Stall using a LBM-VLES Approach

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) are a very popular source of renewable energy, but these machines are often subject to off-design conditions owing to the unsteady nature of wind. Unsteady aerodynamic conditions have been associated with cyclic loading of turbine blades, which can have hugely detrimental effects on their operational life....

Optimal Design of Wind Turbine Blades with Bend-Twist Couplings Effects

This thesis concerns the optimal design of wind turbine blades for bend twist coupling effects. Bend-twist coupling effects can prove to be an effective way of reducing fatigue damage and root bending moments for a wind turbine blade. However, how can bend-twist coupling be incorporated into a wind turbine blade considering the many structural...

Reuse of wind turbine blades in a slow traffic bridge

This master thesis presents a research & design project, aimed at finding a new use for decommissioned wind turbine blades. Wind energy is becoming a major source of renewable energy. As a result, a large stream of wind turbine materials arises. Most of these materials can be recycled very well, but the rotor blades pose a big problem after...