Kim Hyeong Jin, Cho Jin-Rae
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK.
Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea.
Materials (Basel). 2024 Aug 7;17(16):3907. doi: 10.3390/ma17163907.
Graphene platelets (GPLs) are gaining popularity across various sectors for enhancing the strength and reducing the weight of structures, thanks to their outstanding mechanical characteristics and low manufacturing cost. Among many engineering structures, wind turbine blades are a prime candidate for the integration of such advanced nanofillers, offering potential improvements in the efficiency of energy generation and reductions in the construction costs of support structures. This study aims to explore the potential of GPLs for use in wind turbine blades by evaluating their impact on material costs as well as mechanical performance. A series of finite element analyses (FEAs) were conducted to examine the variations of mechanical performances-specifically, free vibration, bending, torsional deformation, and weight reductions relative to conventional fiberglass-based blades. Details of computational modeling techniques are presented in this paper. Based on the outcomes of these analyses, the mechanical performances of GPL-reinforced wind turbine blades are reviewed along with a cost-benefit analysis, exemplified through a 5MW-class wind turbine blade. The findings affirm the practicality and benefits of employing GPLs in the design and fabrication of wind turbine blades.
石墨烯薄片（GPLs）因其出色的机械性能和较低的制造成本，在各个领域中越来越受欢迎，可用于增强结构强度和减轻结构重量。在众多工程结构中，风力涡轮机叶片是集成此类先进纳米填料的主要候选对象，有望提高能源生产效率并降低支撑结构的建造成本。本研究旨在通过评估石墨烯薄片对材料成本和机械性能的影响，探索其在风力涡轮机叶片中的应用潜力。进行了一系列有限元分析（FEA），以研究机械性能的变化，具体而言，包括相对于传统玻璃纤维叶片的自由振动、弯曲、扭转变形和减重情况。本文介绍了计算建模技术的细节。基于这些分析结果，结合成本效益分析，对石墨烯薄片增强型风力涡轮机叶片的机械性能进行了综述，并以一个5兆瓦级风力涡轮机叶片为例进行说明。研究结果证实了在风力涡轮机叶片的设计和制造中使用石墨烯薄片的实用性和益处。
