A new discovery by engineers in the US could give wind turbines a second life.
They have developed a new type resin that coats turbine blades. It can be reused to make countertops and nappies, car tail lights and power tools, as well as nappies and even gummy Bears.
The University of Michigan chemical engineers may have the solution to the greatest challenge in wind power: how to reuse turbine blades.
A new way to save wind turbine blades landfill
Made from resin-coated fibreglass, which is difficult to separate and reuse. Wind turbineBlades are approximately 50m long, which is half the length of a professional football pitch. Some blades can be recycled into cheaper materials, but most end up in landfills. Landfills.
As bigger, more efficient turbines replace old ones in a process known as ‘repowering’, defunct blades are a growing problem. Wind powerWindEurope anticipates that 52,000 tonnes of blades will have to be removed annually by 2030, according to WindEurope.
The wind industry calls for a European-wide ban on LandfillingGreen-minded scientists are developing creative solutions to the problem of turbine blades by 2025.
This recyclable resin could be used for turbine blades
The University of Michigan, USA has developed a new, recyclable composite resin for chemical engineers. turbine blades.
The resin can be recycled into household products once the blade has been removed. Sweet treats. According to American Chemical Society (ACS) research, it can also be dissolved and used to make new turbine blades.
“It can be used over and over again in an infinite loop,” says professor and researcher John Dorgan, PhD. “That’s the goal for the Circular economy.“
How is the recyclable resin produced?
Dorgan and his coworkers combined glass fibres and alumina to create the new turbine material. plant-derivedA synthetic one and a polymer.
The thermoplastic resin panels were strong enough to be used in turbines. Cars.
After removing the panels, you can dissolve them. glassFibers, they were able recast the material to create new products with the same physical characteristics.
They were able to make completely different products by mixing the resin with different minerals and solutions at different temperatures. These products include a super-absorbent plastic used in Nappiespotassium lactate, which can then be purified and made into sweets or sports drinks.
“We recovered FoodDorgan says that he used low-grade potassium lactate to make gummy bear candies.
Is there a ‘yuck factor’ involved in eating candy that was once part of a wind turbine?
Dorgan doesn’t believe so. “A carbon-atom derived by a PlantHe said that a carbon-atom from a fossil-fuel-derived fuel is the same as a corn atom or grass atom. “It’s all part the global Carboncycle, and have shown that it is possible to go from biomass in fields to durable plastic materials, and back to foodtuffs.
The resin’s physical properties have been demonstrated. windResearchers are now hoping to create blades of moderate size for field testing of turbines.
“The current limitation is that there’s not enough of the bioplastic that we’re using to satisfy this market,” notes Dorgan. “There needs to be considerable production volume… if we’re going to actually start making Wind turbinesThese materials are available for purchase.
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