Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2024
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
First Advisor
Michael Bozlar
Second Advisor
Catherine Kilmain
Third Advisor
Sunand Santhanagopalan
Abstract
Polymers have evolved as an indispensable asset in various sectors ranging from packaging and construction to energy and aerospace. However, the accumulation of polymer waste poses a necessity to shift toward sustainable waste management processes. Mechanical recycling is a primary method in establishing a circular economy approach for polymers. However, a fundamental challenge arises in this process: a decrease in the mechanical performance of the recycled product compared to that of its pristine counterpart.
This project addresses the challenge of enhancing the recyclability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from discarded polymer material by incorporating graphene nanoparticles into the polymer matrix during the recycling stage. This elevates its mechanical performance and extends polymer material’s recyclability. The discarded polymer was processed, reinforced with graphene oxide, and extruded into filaments using a twin-screw extruder. Several recycling rounds were conducted, and changes in the mechanical and chemical characteristics of the reinforced polymers were assessed.
The novel material is then inspected for its viability as a robust material for small-scale rotor turbine blades. Wind climate of a remote region in Sudan was assessed for its potential for harnessing wind energy by designing and analyzing a sustainable, small scale, vertical-axis wind turbine rotor. The rotor undergoes modeling, aerodynamic simulation and structural analysis to evaluate its performance under the loading conditions generated by average and peak wind speeds in the remote region of Sudan.
Keywords
Wind Energy, Small-scale Vertical Axis Wind Turbines, Polyethylene Terephthalate, H blade, Nanocomposite, Graphene reinforced polymer, VAWT Design, Circular economy of polymers
Disciplines
Energy Systems | Polymer and Organic Materials | Structures and Materials
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Bachim, Kunal A., "GRAPHENE REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE FOR SMALL-SCALE VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE ROTORS" (2024). Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses. 1.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/mechaerospace_theses/1
Included in
Energy Systems Commons, Polymer and Organic Materials Commons, Structures and Materials Commons