A Comparison of Two Pressure Control Concepts for Hydraulic Offshore Wind Turbines

Author(s):  
Daniel Buhagiar ◽  
Tonio Sant ◽  
Marvin Bugeja

Current research in offshore wind turbines is proposing a novel concept of using seawater-based hydraulics for large-scale power transmission and centralized electrical generation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the control of such an open-loop circuit, where a fixed line pressure is desirable for the sake of efficiency and stability. Pressure control of the open-loop hydraulic circuit presents an interesting control challenge due to the highly fluctuating flow rate along with the nonlinear behavior of the variable-area orifice used by the pressure controller. The present analysis is limited to a single turbine and an open-loop hydraulic line with a variable-area orifice at the end. A controller is proposed which uses a combination of feed-forward compensation for the nonlinear part along with a feedback loop for correcting any errors resulting from inaccuracies in the compensator model. A numerical model of the system under investigation is developed in order to observe the behavior of the controller and the advantages of including the feedback loop. An in-depth analysis is undertaken, including a sensitivity study of the compensator accuracy and a parametric analysis of the actuator response time. Finally, a Monte Carlo analysis was carried out in order to rank the proposed controller in comparison to a simple feed-forward controller and a theoretical optimally tuned controller. Results indicate an advantageous performance of the proposed method of feedback with feed-forward compensation, particularly its ability to maintain a stable line pressure in the face of high parameter uncertainty over a wide range of operating conditions, even with a relatively slow actuation system.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athul K. Sundarrajan ◽  
Yong Hoon Lee ◽  
James T. Allison ◽  
Daniel R. Herber

Abstract This paper discusses a framework to design elements of the plant and control systems for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) in an integrated manner using linear parameter-varying models. Multiple linearized models derived from high-fidelity software are used to model the system in different operating regions characterized by the incoming wind speed. The combined model is then used to generate open-loop optimal control trajectories as part of a nested control co-design strategy that explores the system’s stability and power production in the context of crucial plant and control design decisions. A cost model is developed for the FOWT system, and the effect of plant decisions and subsequent power and stability response of the FOWT is quantified in terms of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for that system. The results show that the stability constraints and the plant design decisions affect the turbine’s power and, subsequently, LCOE of the system. The results indicate that a lighter plant in terms of mass can produce the same power for a lower LCOE while still satisfying the constraints.


2013 ◽  
Vol 569-570 ◽  
pp. 636-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Nguyen Dinh ◽  
Biswajit Basu

In this paper an overview about floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) including operating conditions, property and applicability of the barge, tension-leg, and spar floating platforms is described. The spar-floating offshore wind turbines (S-FOWT) have advantages in deepwater and their preliminary design, numerical modeling tools and integrated modeling are reviewed. Important conclusions about the nacelle and blade motions, tower response, effects of wind and wave loads, overall vibration and power production of the S-FOWT are summarized. Computationally-simplified models with acceptable accuracy are necessary for feasibility and pre-engineering studies of the FOWT. The design needs modeling and analysis of aero-hydro-servo dynamic coupling of the entire FOWT. This paper also familiarizes authors with FOWT and its configurations and modeling approaches.


Author(s):  
John Cross-Whiter ◽  
Benjamin B. Ackers ◽  
Dhiraj Arora ◽  
Alan Wright ◽  
Paul Fleming ◽  
...  

General Electric, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), and Glosten have recently completed a US Department of Energy (DOE)-funded research program to study technologies for mitigating loads on floating offshore wind turbines through the use of advanced turbine controls and tuned mass dampers (TMDs). The analysis was based upon the Glosten PelaStar tension leg platform (TLP) with GE Haliade 150 turbine, a system developed in a previous front end engineering design (FEED) study funded by the Energy Technology Institute (ETI) in the UK. The platform was designed for the WaveHub wave energy research site, with a mean water depth of 59-m. Loads were analyzed by running time-domain simulations in four 50-year return period (50-YRP) ultimate load state (ULS) conditions and 77 fatigue load state (FLS) environmental conditions. In 50-YRP conditions advanced controls are not active. The influence of TMDs on ULS loads have been reported previously (Park et al. [2]). In FLS conditions advanced controls and TMDs afford dramatic reductions in fatigue damage, offering the potential of significant savings in tower structural requirements. Simulations in turbine idling conditions were run in OrcaFlex, and simulations in operating conditions were run in FAST. Simulations were run with a baseline turbine controller, representative of the current state of the art, and an advanced controller developed by NREL to use collective and individual blade pitch control to maintain rotor speed and reduce tower loads. UMass developed a number of TMD types, with varying system configurations, including passive nonlinear dampers and semi-actively controlled dampers with an inverse velocity groundhook control algorithm. Loads and accelerations in FLS conditions were evaluated on the basis of damage equivalent loads (DELs), and fatigue damage was computed by Miner’s summations of stress cycles at the tower base. To study sensitivity to water depth, loads were analyzed at both the 59-m WaveHub depth and a more commercially realistic depth of 100 m. TMDs reduce fatigue damage at the tower-column interface flange by up to 52% in 59-m water depth and up to 28% in 100 m water depth. Advanced controls reduce fatigue damage at the tower-column flange by up to 22% in 59-m water depth and up to 40% in 100 m water depth. The most effective load-mitigation strategy is combining advanced controls with TMDs. This strategy affords a 71% reduction in fatigue damage in both 59-m and 100-m water depths.


Author(s):  
Shuaishuai Wang ◽  
Amir R. Nejad ◽  
Torgeir Moan

Abstract This paper presents the design of a compact gearbox for the DTU 10 MW reference offshore wind turbine. An innovative gearbox concept consisting of a fixed planetary stage with a differential compound epicyclic stage is proposed. Power splitting and compound epicyclic transmission technologies are employed, which could effectively reduce the gearbox’ size. Power transmission principle of the gearbox is described, and power distribution on two transfer paths is derived by the geometrical and mechanical relationships among the components. The gearbox is designed based on the design loads and criteria with reference to the relevant international standards, and all of the critical components, gears and bearings, are designed by performing fatigue limit state (FLS) check. A high fidelity drivetrain dynamic model, consisting of the compact gearbox and one four-point support drivetrain configuration, is established by means of multi-body system (MBS) approach. Then, validation of the power distribution is conducted by the comparison of the simulation results and design values. Resonance analysis of the drivetrain model is conducted by employing Campbell diagram, energy distribtuion of components and time domain simulation approach, and the results show that no resonance phenomenon appears in this drivetrain model during the normal operating conditions. In addition, load sharing performance of the MBS model is assessed, indicating the a favorable dynamic operating behavior of the gearbox. It is believed that such compact design could be good alternative for floating offshore wind turbines.


2014 ◽  
Vol 134 (8) ◽  
pp. 1096-1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sho Tsujimoto ◽  
Ségolène Dessort ◽  
Naoyuki Hara ◽  
Keiji Konishi

Author(s):  
Jose´ G. Rangel-Rami´rez ◽  
John D. So̸rensen

Deterioration processes such as fatigue and corrosion are typically affecting offshore structures. To “control” this deterioration, inspection and maintenance activities are developed. Probabilistic methodologies represent an important tool to identify the suitable strategy to inspect and control the deterioration in structures such as offshore wind turbines (OWT). Besides these methods, the integration of condition monitoring information (CMI) can optimize the mitigation activities as an updating tool. In this paper, a framework for risk-based inspection and maintenance planning (RBI) is applied for OWT incorporating CMI, addressing this analysis to fatigue prone details in welded steel joints at jacket or tripod steel support structures for offshore wind turbines. The increase of turbulence in wind farms is taken into account by using a code-based turbulence model. Further, additional modes t integrate CMI in the RBI approach for optimal planning of inspection and maintenance. As part of the results, the life cycle reliabilities and inspection times are calculated, showing that earlier inspections are needed at in-wind farm sites. This is expected due to the wake turbulence increasing the wind load. With the integration of CMI by means Bayesian inference, a slightly change of first inspection times are coming up, influenced by the reduction of the uncertainty and harsher or milder external agents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 574
Author(s):  
Rundong Yan ◽  
Sarah Dunnett

In order to improve the operation and maintenance (O&M) of offshore wind turbines, a new Petri net (PN)-based offshore wind turbine maintenance model is developed in this paper to simulate the O&M activities in an offshore wind farm. With the aid of the PN model developed, three new potential wind turbine maintenance strategies are studied. They are (1) carrying out periodic maintenance of the wind turbine components at different frequencies according to their specific reliability features; (2) conducting a full inspection of the entire wind turbine system following a major repair; and (3) equipping the wind turbine with a condition monitoring system (CMS) that has powerful fault detection capability. From the research results, it is found that periodic maintenance is essential, but in order to ensure that the turbine is operated economically, this maintenance needs to be carried out at an optimal frequency. Conducting a full inspection of the entire wind turbine system following a major repair enables efficient utilisation of the maintenance resources. If periodic maintenance is performed infrequently, this measure leads to less unexpected shutdowns, lower downtime, and lower maintenance costs. It has been shown that to install the wind turbine with a CMS is helpful to relieve the burden of periodic maintenance. Moreover, the higher the quality of the CMS, the more the downtime and maintenance costs can be reduced. However, the cost of the CMS needs to be considered, as a high cost may make the operation of the offshore wind turbine uneconomical.


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