Wind energy, one of the most promising sources of clean energy, has developed rapidly over the last two decades. Wind turbines (WT) are arguably clean during operation, offering minimal pollution and zero CO2 emissions, but significant amounts of energy are used and CO2 emitted during their manufacture, and, furthermore, the turbines are environmentally problematic at end-of-life (EoL), especially the blades. WT blades are mainly made with composite materials comprising thermosetting resin and glass fibre. They are lightweight and strong but problematic to recycle. Large volumes of waste will be generated when these WT blades are decommissioned and environmental concerns have been raised. The main aim of this study is to understand the environmental impact of wind turbine blades and to find solutions to reduce it. A quantitative method is adopted, first evaluating the WT blade waste inventory then calculating its environmental impact, and finally analysing the differences between all possible EoL options in terms of environmental and financial performance. The results firstly identify the global wind turbine blade waste inventory with detailed generation time and location which could help policy makers to gain an understanding of the size and severity of this problem. Secondly, the outputs indicate where most impact is generated and identify what to prioritise to reduce waste and reduce environmental impact, which is of value to blade manufacturers and other stakeholders. Moreover, this work highlights previous incorrect assumptions and provides findings to build on for future work. Thirdly, ‘optimal’ EoL options for the WT blade waste have been characterized: the current ‘optimal’ EoL option is life extension; mechanical recycling is the current ‘optimal’ recycling option; chemical recycling will be the ‘optimal’ option for the future. Future research is suggested as aiming to improve the performance of recycled fibre or to reduce the energy consumption of recycling processes.

Resumo: O setor elétrico brasileiro vem continuamente passando por crises energéticas; os consumidores, indústrias que dependem de energia para exercerem as suas atividades passaram a valorizar e a buscar fontes alternativas, confiáveis e ecologicamente adequadas com o objetivo de garantir o fornecimento de eletricidade de forma econômica, possibilitando desta maneira uma certa independência energética. Neste contexto, este trabalho tem a finalidade de selecionar sistemas de cogeração utilizando ciclos combinados com conjuntos a gás associadas a caldeira de recuperação sem queima suplementar e turbina a vapor, assim como realizar o levantamento das curvas de produção de energia e eficiência para os ciclos obtidos. Foram utilizados os parâmetros técnicos e construtivos das turbinas a gás e a vapor de uma mesma empresa fabricante, e através das curvas obtidas é possível selecionar o ciclo combinado mais adequado para cada situação desejada, tanto do ponto de vista energético quanto do ponto de vista econômico. / Abstract: The electric Brazilian sector is continually subject to energy crisis, the industrial consumers, that depends on energy to do its activities, is nowadays up to valorize and to look for alternative, trustful and environmental appropriate sources with the objective of guaranteeing the supply of electricity in an economic way and warranting a certain energy independence. In this context, this work has the purpose of selecting cogeneration systems based on using combined cycles with gas turbines associated to heat recovery steam generators without supplementary burners and steam turbines, as well as accomplishing the rising of the curves of production of energy and efficiency for the obtained cycles. The technical and constructive parameters of the gas and steam turbines were considered from the same manufacturing company, and through the obtained curves it is possible to select the more appropriate cycle for each process requirement, in the energy and economic point of view. / Orientador: Júlio Santana Antunes / Coorientador: José Luz Silveira / Banca: José Antonio Perrella Balestieri / Banca: Valdir Apolinario de Freitas / Mestre

Neste trabalho é realizada a concepção, projeto, construção e ensaio de turbinas de múltiplos discos para a verificação dos principais parâmetros e metodologias utilizadas para o projeto e análise do equipamento, além de estudar formas de otimização do equipamento. Assim, uma turbina de múltiplos discos é construída e testada com diferentes configurações de rotores, em uma bancada experimental construída e dimensionada especialmente para esse fim, além da implementação dos métodos analíticos pesquisados no software Engineering Equation Solver (EES). Assim, uma comparação entre os resultados experimentais obtidos por Rice e os modelos de analíticos disponíveis, mostra que o modelo do fator de atrito (FA) é o que melhor representa a operação do equipamento, além de ser o mais versátil dos métodos testados, permitindo que a turbina seja dimensionada e otimizada para várias configurações de construção. Já os resultados experimentais obtidos com um dos protótipos de turbina construído e operado com ar comprimido, mostram que, com modificações simples da geometria, configuração e acabamento superficial dos discos que compõem o rotor, é possível aumentar a eficiência isentrópica em até 35% em relação a turbina padrão montada com a configuração padrão de rotor (discos lisos), sem acarretar prejuízo em alguns dos principais benefícios da utilização deste tipo de equipamento. Os resultados experimentais obtidos mostram também que a eficiência diminui significativamente com o aumento da folga entre o raio externo do rotor e a parte interna da carcaça. / This work is performed conception, design, construction and testing of multiple-disks turbines (MDTs) for the verification of key parameters and methodologies used for the design and analysis of machine as well as consider ways to equipment optimization. Thus, a multiple-disk turbine is constructed and tested with different impeller configurations, in a test rig especially constructed and dimensioned for this purpose, besides the implementation of the analytical methods in software Engineering Equation Solver (ESS). Thus, a comparison between the experimental results obtained by Rice and analytical models available, shows that the friction factor model (FF) is what best represents the operation of the equipment, and is the most versatile of the tested methods, allowing the turbine is sized and optimized for various building configurations. Since the experimental results obtained with one of the turbine prototypes built and operated with compressed air, show that with simple modifications of geometry, configuration and surface finish of the disks that make up the rotor, it is possible to increase the isentropic efficiency by up to 35% compared the standard turbine rotor mounted with the default configuration (flat disks), without causing damage in some of the major benefits of using this type of equipment. The experimental results also show that efficiency decreases significantly with increasing clearance between the outer radius of the rotor and the internal part of the housing.

Neste trabalho é realizada a concepção, projeto, construção e ensaio de turbinas de múltiplos discos para a verificação dos principais parâmetros e metodologias utilizadas para o projeto e análise do equipamento, além de estudar formas de otimização do equipamento. Assim, uma turbina de múltiplos discos é construída e testada com diferentes configurações de rotores, em uma bancada experimental construída e dimensionada especialmente para esse fim, além da implementação dos métodos analíticos pesquisados no software Engineering Equation Solver (EES). Assim, uma comparação entre os resultados experimentais obtidos por Rice e os modelos de analíticos disponíveis, mostra que o modelo do fator de atrito (FA) é o que melhor representa a operação do equipamento, além de ser o mais versátil dos métodos testados, permitindo que a turbina seja dimensionada e otimizada para várias configurações de construção. Já os resultados experimentais obtidos com um dos protótipos de turbina construído e operado com ar comprimido, mostram que, com modificações simples da geometria, configuração e acabamento superficial dos discos que compõem o rotor, é possível aumentar a eficiência isentrópica em até 35% em relação a turbina padrão montada com a configuração padrão de rotor (discos lisos), sem acarretar prejuízo em alguns dos principais benefícios da utilização deste tipo de equipamento. Os resultados experimentais obtidos mostram também que a eficiência diminui significativamente com o aumento da folga entre o raio externo do rotor e a parte interna da carcaça. / This work is performed conception, design, construction and testing of multiple-disks turbines (MDTs) for the verification of key parameters and methodologies used for the design and analysis of machine as well as consider ways to equipment optimization. Thus, a multiple-disk turbine is constructed and tested with different impeller configurations, in a test rig especially constructed and dimensioned for this purpose, besides the implementation of the analytical methods in software Engineering Equation Solver (ESS). Thus, a comparison between the experimental results obtained by Rice and analytical models available, shows that the friction factor model (FF) is what best represents the operation of the equipment, and is the most versatile of the tested methods, allowing the turbine is sized and optimized for various building configurations. Since the experimental results obtained with one of the turbine prototypes built and operated with compressed air, show that with simple modifications of geometry, configuration and surface finish of the disks that make up the rotor, it is possible to increase the isentropic efficiency by up to 35% compared the standard turbine rotor mounted with the default configuration (flat disks), without causing damage in some of the major benefits of using this type of equipment. The experimental results also show that efficiency decreases significantly with increasing clearance between the outer radius of the rotor and the internal part of the housing.

The main goal of my thesis is to carry out thermic calculations for adjusted conditions of electric and heat energy consumption. The power of the generator is 330 MW. In the proposal, you can find combustion trubines type GE 9171E. Steam-gas power plant is designed to combust metallurgical gases. Effort of the thesis focuses also on giving a new informations about trends in combinated production of electric and heat energy.

Les travaux de thèse concernent le développement d’une plateforme d’émulation temps réel destinée aux études théoriques et expérimentales des systèmes hybrides éolien- hydrolien. Diverses architectures de couplages énergétiques sont traitées sur la base des similitudes fonctionnelles des deux systèmes et par des concepts d’émulation à la fois numériques et expérimentaux. La notion de simulation en temps « accéléré » a été développée. Le concept a été validé sur la plateforme expérimentale en utilisant l’évolution de la puissance moyenne délivrée par une turbine éolienne de petite puissance. Cette approche pourra permettre de réduire les temps d’observation des campagnes de mesure, d’accélérer les études sur le potentiel éolien des sites en développement. Nous avons développé également deux types de couplage du système hybride éolien-hydolien. Un couplage électrique basé sur la connexion en parallèle sur un bus continu des deux turbines. Nous avons développé un concept innovant d’un couplage électromécanique basé sur l’utilisation d’une seule génératrice asynchrone sur laquelle sont simultanément couplés les arbres de la turbine éolienne et de la turbine hydrolienne. Pour cela, un servomoteur à commande vectorielle nous a servi à émuler la turbine éolienne pendant qu’un moteur synchrone nous a servi d'émulateur de turbine hydrolienne. L’arbre de la génératrice sert de couplage mécanique entre les deux systèmes. Nous avons mis en évidence dans les expérimentations effectuées, la complémentarité des productions électriques des deux systèmes, et également le besoin de leur adjoindre un système de stockage pour palier à une baisse simultanée de deux productions d’énergie. / The thesis work concerns the development of a real-time emulation platform for theoretical and experimental studies of offshore wind and tidal power hybrid systems. Various energy coupling architectures are processed on the basis of the functional similarities of two systems and by both numerical and experimental emulation concepts. The notion of accelerated time used for real time simulation has been developed. The concept was validated on the experimental platform using the evolution of the mean power delivered by a small wind turbine. This approach can reduce the observation times of the measurement campaigns and could accelerate the studies for the wind potential of developing sites. We have also developed two types of coupling of the wind-tidal hybrid system. An electrical coupling based on the connection in parallel on a continuous bus of two turbines. We have developed an innovative concept of an electromechanical coupling based on the use of a single asynchronous generator on which the wind turbine and tidal turbine are simultaneously coupled. For this purpose, a vector-controlled servomotor was used to emulate the wind turbine while a synchronous motor was used as a tidal turbine emulator. The generator shaft is used as a mechanical coupling between the two systems. We have demonstrated in the experiments that we have developed the complementarity of the electrical productions of the two systems; we highlighted the need to add a storage system to compensate the simultaneous decrease of the two energy productions. The real time simulations results allow us to validate the feasibility of such a coupling.

While conventional turbines have been extensively researched and tested, Tesla and boundary layer type turbines have not. In order to construct a dynamometer, thermodynamic flow apparatus and future turbines, we modeled the Tesla turbine using theoretical calculations and preliminary experiments. Thus a series of experiments were run to determine stall torque and maximum run speed for a known pressure range. This data was then applied to modeling formulas to estimate stall torque over an extended range of variables. The data were then used to design an appropriate dynamometer and airflow experiment. The model data also served to estimate various specifications and power output of the future turbine. An Obi Laser SSTG‐001 Tesla turbine was used in the experiments described. Experimental stall torque measurements were conducted in two stages. Shaft speed measurements were taken with an optical laser tachometer and Tesla turbine stall torque was measured using a spring force gauge. Two methods were chosen to model Tesla turbine stall torque: 1) flow over flat plate and 2) free vortex with a sink. A functional dynamometer and thermodynamic apparatus were constructed once the model was confirmed to be within the experimental uncertainty. Results of the experiments show that the experimental turbine at 65 PSI has a speed of approximately 27,000 RPM and a measured stall torque of 0.1279 N‐m. 65 PSI is an important data point because that data set is the cut‐off from laminar to turbulent flow. Thus at 65 PSI, a rejection of the null hypothesis for research question one with respect to the flow over flat plate method can be seen from the data, while the vortex model results in a failure to reject the null hypothesis. In conclusion, the experimental turbine was seen to have a laminar and a turbulent flow regime at different air pressures, rather than the assumed laminar flow regime. As a result of this model work, a new Tesla turbine of different dimensions was designed to adjust for flaws in the experimental turbine. The theoretical stall torque models were then applied to the new Tesla turbine design. Results of the models show that the vortex model sets the upper bound for theoretical stall torque for the new and the flat plate flow model sets the lower bound.

A previously developed turbine modelling methodology, requiring minimal blade passage information, produced a customizable turbine stage component. This stage-by-stage turbine nozzlemodel component was derived from the synthesis of classical turbine theory and classical nozzle theory enabling the component to accurately model a turbine stage. Utilizing Flownex, a thermohydraulic network solver, the turbine stage component can be expanded to accurately model any arrangement and category of turbine. This project focused on incorporating turbine blade passage geometrical information, as it relates to the turbine specific loss coefficients, into the turbine stage component to allow for the development of turbine models capable of predicting turbine performance for various structural changes, anomalies and operating conditions. The development of turbine loss coefficient algorithms as they relate to specific blade geometry data clusters required the investigation of several turbine loss calculation methodologies. A stage-by-stage turbine nozzle-model incorporating turbine loss coefficient algorithms was developed and validated against real turbine test cases obtained from literature. Several turbine models were developed using the loss coefficient governed turbine stage component illustrating its array of capabilities. The incorporation of the turbine loss coefficient algorithms clearly illustrates the correlation between turbine performance deviations and changes in specific blade geometry data clusters.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to design, manufacture and measure the characteristics of a mobile water pico turbine. More precisely, it is an experimental construction of a mill wheel. The first part of this document is describing the design and manufacture of the turbine. This part focuses mainly on the construction of water wheels with different sizes of buckets and on the nozzle supplying water to the turbine. There is also a CFD simulation of pressure loss of nozzle. The second part of the thesis is focused on the processing of data that were measured in the laboratory, including the determination of uncertainties. The measurements were performed for different turbine settings such as flow, speed, different wheel shapes and different positions of the nozzle distributing water to the wheel. For individual turbine settings are created characteristics, from which maximum powers and maximum efficiencies parameters are determined.

This thesis is concerned with the calculation of the power turbine. This turbine should be used in the automatic drive of the compressor used for compression of natural gas in compressor stations. Flight engine aeroderivate from the Rolls-Roye company, type RB211-22B, was used as gas generator. The main aim of the thesis is to summarize of the base atributes of the combustion turbines and aeroderivates. They are used for automatic engine, application a thermodynamic calculation of the power turbine, for reaction stage and basic strength calculations.