Impact of Blade Flexibility on Wind Turbine Loads and Pitch Settings

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinge Chen ◽  
Xin Shen ◽  
Xiaocheng Zhu ◽  
Zhaohui Du
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Beam Theory ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Aerodynamic Loads ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Geometrically Exact Beam ◽  
The Impact

Along with the upscaling tendency, lighter and so more flexible wind turbine blades are introduced for reducing cost of manufacture and materials. The flexible blade deforms under aerodynamic loads and in turn affects the flow field, arising the aero-elastic problems. In this paper, the impact of blade flexibility on the wind turbine loads, power production, and pitch actions is discussed. An aeroelastic model is developed for the study. A free wake vortex lattice model is used to calculate the aerodynamic loads, and a geometrically exact beam theory is adopted to compute the structural dynamics of the blade. The flap, lead-lag bending and torsion DOFs are all included and nonlinear effects due to large deflections are considered. The NREL 5MW reference wind turbine is analyzed. Influences of pure-bending and bending-torsion deformations of the blade on aerodynamic loads are compared. The aerodynamic force distributions under various wind speeds for rigid and flexible blades are also compared. The steady state deformations across the operational conditions are calculated, along with the rotor power production. Significant reduction of power is seen especially under large wind speeds, due to the blade twist deformations under torsion moments. Lower pitch angle settings should be applied to maintain the constant power.

Impact of Blade Flexibility on Wind Turbine Loads and Pitch Settings

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaocheng Zhu ◽  
Jinge Chen ◽  
Xin Shen ◽  
Zhaohui Du
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Beam Theory ◽  
Nonlinear Effects ◽  
Wind Turbine Blades ◽  
Aerodynamic Loads ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Geometrically Exact Beam

Along with the upscaling tendency, lighter and so more flexible wind turbine blades are introduced for reducing material and manufacturing costs. The flexible blade deforms under aerodynamic loads and in turn affects the flow field, arising the aeroelastic problems. In this paper, the impacts of blade flexibility on the wind turbine loads, power production, and pitch actions are discussed. An advanced aeroelastic model is developed for the study. A free wake vortex lattice model instead of the traditionally used blade element momentum (BEM) method is used to calculate the aerodynamic loads, and a geometrically exact beam theory is adopted to compute the blade structural dynamics. The flap, lead-lag bending, and torsion degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) are all included and nonlinear effects due to large deflections are considered. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5 MW reference wind turbine is analyzed. It is found that the blade torsion deformations are significantly affected by both the aerodynamic torsion moment and the sectional aerodynamic center offset with respect to the blade elastic axis. Simulation results further show that the largest bending deflection of the blade occurs at the rated wind speed, while the torsion deformation in toward-feather direction continuously increases along with the above-rated wind speed. A significant reduction of the rotor power is observed especially at large wind speed when considering the blade flexibility, which is proved mainly due to the blade torsion deformations instead of the pure-bending deflections. Lower pitch angle settings are found required to maintain the constant rotor power at above-rated wind speeds.

scholarly journals Enhancement of Free Vortex Filament Method for Aerodynamic Loads on Rotor Blades

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Abedi ◽  
Lars Davidson ◽  
Spyros Voutsinas
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Free Vortex ◽  
Irrotational Flow ◽  
Aerodynamic Loads ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Turbine Rotor Blade

The aerodynamics of a wind turbine is governed by the flow around the rotor, where the prediction of air loads on rotor blades in different operational conditions and its relation to rotor structural dynamics is one of the most important challenges in wind turbine rotor blade design. Because of the unsteady flow field around wind turbine blades, prediction of aerodynamic loads with high level of accuracy is difficult and increases the uncertainty of load calculations. A free vortex wake method, based on the potential, inviscid and irrotational flow, is developed to study the aerodynamic loads. Since it is based on the potential, inviscid and irrotational flow, it cannot be used to predict viscous phenomena such as drag and boundary layer separation. Therefore it must be coupled to the tabulated airfoil data to take the viscosity effects into account. The results are compared with the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) [1] method and the GENUVP code [2] (see also the acknowledgments).

Power Optimization of Model-Scale Floating Wind Turbines Using Real-Time Hybrid Testing With Autonomous Actuation and Control

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Kanner ◽  
Elena Koukina ◽  
Ronald W. Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Tangential Force ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Hybrid Testing ◽  
Model Scale

In this research, real-time hybrid testing of floating wind turbines is carried out at model-scale. The semi-submersible, triangular platform is built to support two vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). On account of incongruous scaling issues between the aerodynamics and the hydrodynamics, the wind turbines are not constructed at the same scale. Instead, remote-controlled (RC) plane motors and propellers are used as actuators to mimic only the tangential forces on the wind turbine blades, which are attached to the physical model. On a VAWT, the tangential force is proportional to the torque on the turbine, which contributes to the power production. A control algorithm is implemented using the wind turbine generators to optimize the platform heading and hence, the theoretical power absorbed by the wind turbines. The computer fluid dynamics simulations of two-dimensional counter-rotating turbines is briefly discussed. The results from the simulations are discussed in the context of existing onshore experimental data. This experimental approach only seeks to recreate the aerodynamic force which contributes to the power production. In doing so, the generator control algorithm can be validated. The advantages and drawbacks of this technique are discussed, including the need for low inertia actuators, which can quickly respond to control signals.

Numerical Modeling of the Effects of Leading-Edge Erosion and Trailing-Edge Damage on Wind Turbine Loads and Performance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Papi ◽  
Lorenzo Cappugi ◽  
Alessandro Bianchini ◽  
Sebastian Perez-Becker
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Future Generation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Extreme Loads ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Wind turbines often operate in challenging environmental conditions. In hot and dusty climates, wind turbine blades are constantly exposed to abrasive particles that, according to many field reports, cause significant damages to the blade’s leading edge. On the other hand, in cold climates similar effects can be caused by prolonged exposure to hail and rain. Quantifying the effects of airfoil deterioration on modern multi-MW wind turbines is crucial to correctly schedule maintenance and to forecast the potential impact on productivity. Analyzing the impact of airfoil damage on fatigue and extreme loading is also important to improve the reliability and longevity of wind turbines. However, this is a topic that has not yet been extensively investigated. In this work, a blade erosion model is developed and calibrated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The DTU 10MW Reference Wind Turbine (RWT) is selected as the case study for the analysis, as it is representative of the typical size of the future generation wind turbines. Lift and Drag polars are generated using the developed model and a CFD numerical set-up. Power and torque coefficients are compared in idealized conditions at two wind speeds, i.e. the rated speed and one below it. Full aero-servo-elastic simulations of the turbine are conducted with the eroded polars using NREL’s BEM-based code OpenFAST. Sixty-six ten-minute simulations are performed for each stage of airfoil damage, reproducing operating conditions specified by the IEC 61400-1 power production DLC-group, including wind shear, yaw misalignment and turbulence. Performance data, fatigue and extreme loads are compared for the aeroelastic simulations, showing maximum decreases in CP of about 12% as well as reductions in fatigue and extreme loading.

scholarly journals Enhancement of Free Vortex Filament Method for Aerodynamic Loads on Rotor Blades

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Abedi ◽  
Lars Davidson ◽  
Spyros Voutsinas
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Potential Flow ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Dynamic Stall ◽  
Aerodynamic Loads ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Blade Element

The aerodynamics of a wind turbine is governed by the flow around the rotor, where the prediction of air loads on rotor blades in different operational conditions and its relation to rotor structural dynamics is one of the most important challenges in wind turbine rotor blade design. Because of the unsteady flow field around wind turbine blades, prediction of aerodynamic loads with high level of accuracy is difficult and increases the uncertainty of load calculations. An in-house vortex lattice free wake (VLFW) code, based on the inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational flow (potential flow), was developed to study the aerodynamic loads. Since it is based on the potential flow, it cannot be used to predict viscous phenomena such as drag and boundary layer separation. Therefore, it must be coupled to tabulated airfoil data to take the viscosity effects into account. Additionally, a dynamic approach must be introduced to modify the aerodynamic coefficients for unsteady operating conditions. This approach, which is called dynamic stall, adjusts the lift, the drag, and the moment coefficients for each blade element on the basis of the two-dimensional (2D) static airfoil data together with the correction for separated flow. Two different turbines, NREL and MEXICO, are used in the simulations. Predicted normal and tangential forces using the VLFW method are compared with the blade element momentum (BEM) method, the GENUVP code, and the MEXICO wind tunnel measurements. The results show that coupling to the 2D static airfoil data improves the load and power predictions while employing the dynamic stall model to take the time-varying operating conditions into consideration is crucial.

Power Optimization of Model-Scale Floating Wind Turbines Using Real-Time Hybrid Testing With Autonomous Actuation and Control1

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Kanner ◽  
Elena Koukina ◽  
Ronald W. Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Hybrid Testing ◽  
Model Scale ◽  
Tangential Forces

Real-time hybrid testing of floating wind turbines is conducted at model scale. The semisubmersible, triangular platform, similar to the WindFloat platform, is built instead to support two, counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). On account of incongruous scaling issues between the aerodynamic and the hydrodynamic loading, the wind turbines are not constructed at the same scale as the floater support. Instead, remote-controlled plane motors and propellers are used as actuators to mimic only the tangential forces on the wind-turbine blades, which are attached to the physical (floater-support) model. The application of tangential forces on the VAWTs is used to mimic the power production stage of the turbine. A control algorithm is implemented using the wind-turbine generators to optimize the platform heading and hence, the theoretical power absorbed by the wind turbines. This experimental approach only seeks to recreate the aerodynamic force, which contributes to the power production. In doing so, the generator control algorithm can thus be validated. The advantages and drawbacks of this hybrid simulation technique are discussed, including the need for low inertia actuators, which can quickly respond to control signals.

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