The wind–sand climate prevalent in the central and western regions of Inner Mongolia results in significant damage to wind turbine blade coatings due to sand erosion. This not only leads to a decline in power generation but also poses safety risks. This study replicated the wind–sand environment of Alashan and numerically simulated the erosion and wear process of the blade coatings of a 1.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine under rotational conditions using the DPM model. Additionally, erosion tests were conducted on the operating wind rotor in a wind tunnel. The simulation results demonstrate that sand particle trajectories in the rotating domain are influenced by vortex, incoming wind speed, and sand particle size. For small-sized sand particles, variations in wind speed do not substantially alter the number of particles in contact with the wind turbine blades. However, alterations in the momentum of these particles lead to changes in the impact force on the coating surface. Conversely, the change of wind speed will not only alter the number of large-size sand particles in contact with the wind rotor but also modify the impact force on the coating surface. Furthermore, after impacting the blade, small sand particles continue to move along an approximate helical trajectory with the airflow, while large-size sand particles swiftly rebound. Through statistical analysis of erosion pits on the blade surface after the erosion experiments, it was observed that, in comparison among the leading edge, windward side, trailing edge, and leeward side, the leading edge presents the greatest number of erosion pits, whereas the leeward side has the fewest. Along the spanwise direction, the 0.7R-blade tip segment exhibits the highest count, while the blade root-0.3R section displays the fewest number of pits. The wear morphology of the blade coating was observed from the blade root to tip. The leading edge coating exhibits a range from shallow pits to coating flaking and deeper gouge pits. On the windward side, the coating displays wear patterns varying from tiny cutting pits to cutting marks, and then to gouge pits and coating flaking. Erosion morphology of the trailing edge evolves from only minor scratches to spalling pits, further deepening and enlarging. These research findings provide a basis for the study of zoning-adapted coating materials for wind turbine blades in wind–sand environments.

An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the problem of the substantial variability in water content in unrotted sheep dung, which leads to a lack of universality and practicality in calibrating its discrete element simulation parameters. The stacking angle was used as the response value in these experiments. The objective of this study was to establish precise simulation parameters for the composting process. A model for water content-stacking angle was established using the cylinder-lifting technique, resulting in a correlation value of 0.997. Utilizing the Hertz–Mindlin with JKR bonding model, three EDEM particle models were developed, each with distinct particle sizes, based on the particle size distribution of sheep dung. The JKR surface energy was determined using the Plackett–Burman test, the steepest-climbing test, and the Box–Behnken test using a set of 10 parameters. A subsequent study was conducted on the JKR surface energy, rolling friction factor, and static friction factor utilizing the Plackett–Burman test and Box–Behnken test. A parameter model for stacking angle–discrete elements was developed that achieved a p-value below 0.0001 and a relative inaccuracy of 3.46% or less. The regression model for the water content–discrete element parameter was derived by combining the water content–stacking angle model with the stacking angle–discrete element parameter model. Validation of this model was conducted using both the pumping plate technique and the hopper approach, resulting in a relative error of 4.89% or less. The findings demonstrate that the specific characteristics of sheep manure may be accurately anticipated by considering its water content. This approach offers a valid and universally applicable way of predicting the specific characteristics of sheep dung in the simulation of composting equipment.

Inner Mongolia has the largest sheep population among China’s provinces, resulting in the production of a substantial amount of sheep manure. If left untreated, this manure can contribute to environmental pollution. However, sheep manure serves a dual purpose: it can be both a pollutant and a valuable source of organic fertilizer. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the environmental issues arising from manure accumulation and its unused status. In this paper, a viable solution is proposed: the conversion of manure into fertilizer through a composting unit incorporating high-temperature aerobic fermentation technology. This unit, tailored for small farms and individual farmers, integrates critical functions such as ventilation, heating, and turning. Additionally, it boasts excellent thermal insulation, enhancing composting efficiency and enabling precise control over fermentation conditions. This design mitigates heat loss and accelerates maturation, addressing common challenges in traditional composting. The design process encompassed both equipment construction and control systems, with a primary focus on compost fermentation and aeration heating. The components were carefully designed or selected based on theoretical analysis and subsequently validated using simulation software, including EDEM and Fluent. The control system seamlessly integrates a touch screen interface, PLC programming, and control circuits to manage air pumps and electric heaters in response to changes in temperature and oxygen concentration. Furthermore, it controls the motors during the recovery phase. A comprehensive performance evaluation was conducted, revealing notable improvements. Under artificially heated conditions, the maximum temperature of the compost increased by approximately 20 °C, the composting cycle was reduced by roughly 4 days, and the seed germination index (GI) rose by about 9% when compared to natural fermentation. Thus, this device significantly accelerates composting and improves fertilizer quality by increasing the decomposition rate.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, known for its famous Mongolian horses, faces significant environmental challenges due to the large-scale rearing of these animals, which produces a substantial amount of manure. If not managed effectively, this manure can lead to severe environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a small-scale intelligent aeration and heating composting system is effective in treating Mongolian horse manure, with the objective of enhancing composting efficiency and resource utilization to support sustainable agricultural development in the region. The equipment was utilized to treat a compost mixture of Mongolian horse manure and corn stover, allowing for an analysis of the changes in key indicators throughout the composting process. The results demonstrated that the equipment maintained high temperatures for up to eight days during the composting process, effectively inactivating pathogens and promoting the efficient decomposition of organic matter. The system also successfully controlled humidity to 12.7% and maintained oxygen concentration within the optimal range. Post-composting analysis revealed that the final compost contained 2.3% nitrogen, 1.3% phosphorus, and 1.2% potassium, with a pH of 6.4 and conductivity of approximately 5.2 mS/cm. Additionally, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio decreased significantly from 27.3 to 15.9, indicating substantial organic matter degradation. Seed germination tests showed germination rates of 80%, 86%, and 75% for corn, mung bean, and wheat, respectively, with a final seed germination index of 104%. This study concluded that the small aeration and heating composting equipment is highly effective in treating Mongolian horse manure, producing high-quality organic fertilizers that significantly enhance soil fertility and demonstrate considerable potential for supporting sustainable agricultural practices and improving environmental management in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.