Turbulance induced loads on a teetered rotor

Development of variable speed horizontal axis wind turbines has resulted in a need for an analysis code with a rotor speed degree-of-freedom. This study develops a five degree-of-freedom time domain computer code that evaluates blade and rotor, mean and cyclic loads with nonlinear aerodynamics toget...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Weber, Timothy L.
Other Authors: Wilson, Robert E.
Language:en_US
Published: 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1957/37912
Description
Summary:Development of variable speed horizontal axis wind turbines has resulted in a need for an analysis code with a rotor speed degree-of-freedom. This study develops a five degree-of-freedom time domain computer code that evaluates blade and rotor, mean and cyclic loads with nonlinear aerodynamics together with atmospheric turbulence as a forcing function. Verification of the model is made by comparison of loads predictions between ESI-80 wind turbine data and analytical solutions. Results show good agreement for mean and cyclic loads and teeter angle excursions. A single-blade point turbulence simulation model is optimized using a three-blade point turbulence simulation model. The optimum point is the 80% radius location, although a multiplying factor is needed to make conservative fatigue cycle predictions of blade bending. ESI-80 start-up and shutdown scenarios are examined, prediction trends matched ESI-80 data. Three generator models are investigated. Results show that generator torque cycles are reduced and yearly energy capture increased by 24% when a variable speed generator is implemented. === Graduation date: 1991