A Review on Failure Modes of Wind Turbine Components

Abdul Ghani Olabi, Tabbi Wilberforce, Khaled Elsaid, Enas Taha Sayed, Tareq Salameh, Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem and Ahmad Baroutaji
Additional contact information
Abdul Ghani Olabi: Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Tabbi Wilberforce: Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
Khaled Elsaid: Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha 23874, Qatar
Enas Taha Sayed: Centre for Advanced Materials Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Tareq Salameh: Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem: Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Ahmad Baroutaji: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-44

Abstract: To meet the increasing energy demand, renewable energy is considered the best option. Its patronage is being encouraged by both the research and industrial community. The main driving force for most renewable systems is solar energy. It is abundant and pollutant free compared to fossil products. Wind energy is also considered an abundant medium of energy generation and often goes hand in hand with solar energy. The last few decades have seen a sudden surge in wind energy compared to solar energy due to most wind energy systems being cost effective compared to solar energy. Wind turbines are often categorised as large or small depending on their application and energy generation output. Sustainable materials for construction of different parts of wind turbines are being encouraged to lower the cost of the system. The turbine blades and generators perform crucial roles in the overall operation of the turbines; hence, their material composition is very critical. Today, most turbine blades are made up of natural fiber-reinforced polymer (NFRP) as well as glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP). Others are also made from wood and some metallic materials. Each of the materials introduced has specific characteristics that affect the system’s efficiency. This investigation explores the influence of these materials on turbine efficiency. Observations have shown that composites reinforced with nanomaterials have excellent mechanical characteristics. Carbon nanotubes have unique characteristics that may make them valuable in wind turbine blades in the future. It is possible to strengthen carbon nanotubes with various kinds of resins to get a variety of different characteristics. Similarly, the end-of-life treatment methods for composite materials is also presented.

Keywords: composite material; turbine blade; failure mode; cost analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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