Triboelectric separation technology for recycling end-of-life wind turbine blades

Abstract

This study investigates the application of triboelectric separation technology for the efficient recovery of glass fibre-reinforced polymers (GFRPs) from wind turbine blade. Through systematic experiments, the effects of friction materials, electrode voltage and feed rate on separation efficiency were evaluated. The results demonstrate that using polymethyl methacrylate as the friction material, with an electrode voltage of 12.0 kV and a feed rate of 360 g min⁻¹, achieves optimal separation performance. Under these conditions, GFRP with a purity of 70.28% and a recovery of 72.92% was obtained, representing a 55.62% improvement in purity compared to the pre-separation state. The study further confirms the effectiveness of triboelectric separation across different particle size ranges, highlighting its potential for large-scale application in wind turbine blade recycling. This technology offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for managing end-of-life wind turbine blade, supporting the wind energy industry’s transition towards a circular economy and contributing to global sustainability goals.