Design for Recycling Principles Applicable to Selected Clean Energy Technologies: Crystalline-Silicon Photovoltaic Modules, Electric Vehicle Batteries, and Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract The global growth of clean energy technology deployment will be followed by parallel growth in end-of-life (EOL) products, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Cumulatively, by 2050, estimates project 78 million tonnes of raw materials embodied in the mass of EOL photovoltaic (PV) modules, 12 billion tonnes of wind turbine blades, and by 2030, 11 million tonnes of lithium-ion batteries. Owing partly to concern that the projected growth of these technologies could become constrained by raw material availability, processes for recycling them at EOL continue to be developed. However, none of these technologies are typically designed with recycling in mind, and all of them present challenges to efficient recycling. This article synthesizes and extends design for recycling (DfR) principles based on a review of published industrial and academic best practices as well as consultation with experts in the field. Specific principles developed herein apply to crystalline-silicon PV modules, batteries like those used in electric vehicles, and wind turbine blades, while a set of broader principles applies to all three of these technologies and potentially others. These principles are meant to be useful for stakeholders—such as research and development managers, analysts, and policymakers—in informing and promoting decisions that facilitate DfR and, ultimately, increase recycling rates as a way to enhance the circularity of the clean energy economy. The article also discusses some commercial implications of DfR. Graphical Abstract

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Seagull in Wind Turbine Airfoil Blade Design Application Bionic

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.380-384.4336 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 380-384 ◽

pp. 4336-4339

Author(s):

Hua Xin ◽

Chun Hua Zhang ◽

Qing Guo Zhang ◽

Ping Wang

Keyword(s):

Wind Energy ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Simulation Analysis ◽

Turbine Blades ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Aerodynamic Performance ◽

Blade Design ◽

Wind Turbine Blades ◽

Bionic Blade ◽

Turbine Blade Design

Wind energy is an inexhaustible, an inexhaustible source of renewable and clean energy. Present due to the energy crisis and environmental protection and other issues, the use of wind more and more world attention. The wind turbine is the best form of wind energy conversion. Wind turbine wind turbine blades to capture wind energy is the core component of the blade in a natural environment to run directly in contact with air, with seagulls wings generate lift conditions are similar, so the gull wings airfoil and excellent conformation, with wind turbine blade design designed by combining the bionic blades. Through numerical simulation analysis found bionic blade aerodynamic performance than the standard blade aerodynamic performance has improved.

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Development of wireless bird collision monitoring system using 0-3 piezoelectric composite sensor on wind turbine blades

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures ◽

10.1177/1045389x17730925 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (17) ◽

pp. 3426-3435

Author(s):

Sang-Hyeon Kang ◽

Lae-Hyong Kang

Keyword(s):

Wind Turbine ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Wind Turbines ◽

Turbine Blades ◽

Wind Farms ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Piezoelectric Composite ◽

Collision Rate ◽

Wind Turbine Blades ◽

The Impact

Over the past several decades, wind turbines have been established as one of the promising renewable energy systems for safe and clean energy collection. In order to collect more energy efficiently, the size of wind turbines has been increased and many wind farms have been constructed. Wind farms generate lots of energy, but they cause several side effects, such as noise and a threat to wildlife. It is reported that the bird collision rate of a wind turbine ranges from 0.01 to 23 annually. It is more serious in the case of rare and endangered birds. In order to monitor the effect on birds in wind farms, researchers have developed remote sensing technology for a detection apparatus using heat and radar. In addition, paint color and other variables have been studied regarding their effects on the collision rate. However, the existing methods are passive ways to prevent bird collision or just monitor bird conditions. Therefore, in this study, we propose a bird collision monitoring system that can detect where the bird collision occurred, which will aid in rescuing the birds. If the wind turbine blade has its own ability to capture an impact signal, the impact location can be easily detected, and the birds can be rescued. For this purpose, piezoelectric paint was applied to the wind turbine blades used in this study. The piezoelectric paint is also known as 0-3 piezoelectric composite, which is composed of piezoelectric particles and polymer resin. It is sensitive to high-frequency signals such as impacts, so it is suitable for monitoring bird collision signals. In order to amplify and transmit the impact signal from the rotating blade to a stationary base, a wireless transmission device using a ZigBee module and signal conditioning circuit was also installed. Through lab-scale tests, it was confirmed that this bird collision monitoring system shows a 100% bird collision detection rate.

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Second-generation composites from recycled wind turbine blades

10.31224/osf.io/8rx9q ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Azadeh Tavousi Tabatabaei ◽

Seyed Hossein Mamanpush

Keyword(s):

Wind Energy ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Turbine Blade ◽

Second Generation ◽

Turbine Blades ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Wind Turbine Blades ◽

Environmental Attributes ◽

The Us ◽

The World

The demand for wind and other forms of clean energy is increasing in the US and throughout the world. Wind energy is also expected to provide 14.9% of the global electricity demand by 2020. Under this scenario, a significant amount of wind turbine blades (WTBs) will continue to burden our current landfills until a viable recycling strategy is found. Repurposing or recycling of end- of-use wind turbine blade material will provide both economic and environmental attributes.

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Recycling and reuse of composite materials for wind turbine blades: An overview

Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites ◽

10.1177/0731684419833470 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (12) ◽

pp. 567-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Junlei Chen ◽

Jihui Wang ◽

Aiqing Ni

Keyword(s):

Composite Materials ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

High Performance ◽

Natural Fiber ◽

Turbine Blades ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Resource Conservation ◽

Commercial Production ◽

Thermoplastic Resin ◽

Wind Turbine Blades

Based on the increasing number of end of life wind turbine blades and the emphasis on resource conservation and environmental protection, more and more attention has been paid to the recycling and reuse of thermoset composite materials for wind turbine blades. This paper gives an overview of the main recycling technologies and reuse of recycled products. Current recycling technology still needs more work to move from laboratory stage to commercial production. Cheaper, less polluting, and more efficient recycling technologies are needed, along with remanufacturing technologies for high performance products can be obtained to expand the market for recycled materials. In addition, new environmentally friendly blade materials should be designed from the source, using natural fiber, modified thermosetting resin and recyclable thermoplastic resin, which make wind energy a truly clean energy.

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Cost-Optimal Maintenance Planning for Defects on Wind Turbine Blades

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12060998 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 998 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yi Yang ◽

John Sørensen

Keyword(s):

Markov Chain ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Transition Probabilities ◽

Markov Chain Model ◽

Turbine Blades ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Chain Model ◽

Wind Turbine Blades ◽

Discrete Markov Chain

Due to the considerable increase in clean energy demand, there is a significant trend of increased wind turbine sizes, resulting in much higher loads on the blades. The high loads can cause significant out-of-plane deformations of the blades, especially in the area nearby the maximum chord. This paper briefly presents a discrete Markov chain model as a simplified probabilistic model for damages in wind turbine blades, based on a six-level damage categorization scheme applied by the wind industry, with the aim of providing decision makers with cost-optimal inspection intervals and maintenance strategies for the aforementioned challenges facing wind turbine blades. The in-history inspection information extracted from a database with inspection information was used to calibrate transition probabilities in the discrete Markov chain model. With the calibrated transition probabilities, the damage evolution can be statistically simulated. The classical Bayesian pre-posterior decision theory, as well as condition-based maintenance strategy, was used as a basis for the decision-making. An illustrative example with transverse cracks is presented using a reference wind turbine.

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