• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.79-100
• /
• 2017

The use of wind energy resources is developing rapidly in recent decades. There is an increasing number of wind farms in high wind-velocity areas such as the Pacific Rim regions. Wind turbine towers are vulnerable to tropical cyclones and tower failures have been reported in an increasing number in these regions. Existing post-disaster failure case studies were mostly performed through forensic investigations and there are few numerical studies that address the collapse mode simulation of wind turbine towers under strong wind loads. In this paper, the wind-induced failure analysis of a conventional 65 m hub high 1.5-MW wind turbine was carried out by means of nonlinear response time-history analyses in a detailed finite element model of the structure. The wind loading was generated based on the wind field parameters adapted from the cyclone boundary layer flow. The analysis results indicate that this particular tower fails due to the formation of a full-section plastic hinge at locations that are consistent with those reported from field investigations, which suggests the validity of the proposed numerical analysis in the assessment of the performance of wind-farms under cyclonic winds. Furthermore, the numerical simulation allows to distinguish different failure stages before the dynamic collapse occurs in the proposed wind turbine tower, opening the door to future research on the control of these intermediate collapse phases.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.794-805
• /
• 2017

This paper proposes a Hardware-In-Loop(HIL) Simulator for a Wind Turbine and an operational control algorithm to evaluate the performance of a wind turbine control system. It provides not only for the validation of the control logics, safety functions and H/W failure, but also for the high reliability of the wind turbines (by reducing/and the reduction of the operating expense(OPEX) through performance evaluation tests with complex scenarios. On the other hand, the proposed simulator uses MATLAB, CODER, and the PLC library to operate in synchronization with the hardware, and a real-time processing-based wind turbine module including a dynamic model and control system, wind module, grid module and host PC to manage the HIL-simulator. Several experiments were carried out under the above concept to verify the effectiveness of the proposed WT HIL-simulator.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2023

We study the progressive full-scale wind tunnel tests on a high solidity vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) for various tip speeds and pitch angles to understand the VAWT shaft system's dynamics using 0-1 Test for chaos. We identify that while varying rotor speed (tip speed) of the turbine, the system's dynamics change from periodic to chaotic through quasiperiodic and strange non-chaotic (SNA) states. The present study is the first experimental evidence for the existence of these states in the VAWT shaft system to the best of our knowledge. Using the asymptotic growth value Kc in 0-1 test, when the turbine operates at the low tip speeds and high pitch angles for low incoming wind speeds, the system behaves periodic (Kc ≈ 0). However, when the incoming wind speed increases further the system's dynamics shift from periodic to chaotic vibrations through quasi-periodic and SNA. This phenomenon is due to the dynamic stalling of blades which induces chaotic vibration in the VAWT shaft system. Further, the singular continuous spectrum method validates the presence of SNA and differentiates the SNA from chaotic vibrations.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.1024-1031
• /
• 2013

This paper addresses linear quadratic regulation (LQR) for variable speed variable pitch wind turbines. Because of the inherent nonlinearity of wind turbines, a set of operating conditions is identified and then a LQR controller is designed for each of the operating points. The feedback controller gains are then interpolated linearly to get a control law for the entire operating region. In addition, the aerodynamic torque and effective wind speed are estimated online to get the gain-scheduling variable for implementing the controller. The potential of this method is verified through simulation with the help of MATLAB/Simulink and GH Bladed. The performance and mechanical load when using LQR are also compared with those obtained when using a PI controller.

• Journal of Wind Energy
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.5-11
• /
• 2019

This paper suggests and compares two algorithms, a moving average filter method and a method developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to verify the yaw control algorithm characteristic to reduce yaw error for a wind turbine. A characteristic change for yaw movement in accordance with control parameter change that consists of each control method has been verified. Also, yaw simulations were performed using nacelle wind data measured from two areas with different turbulence intensities and the yaw movement data in each area was compared. These two algorithms and real data were compared by calculating mean absolute error (MSE) and the number of yawing (NY). As a result of the analysis, the MSE values were not significantly different between the two algorithms, but the algorithm proposed by the NREL was found to reduce yaw movement by up to 50 percent more than the moving average filter method.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.465-475
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out with two goals. One was the development of a model of a wind turbine blade airfoil and the other was the application of this folding blade. In general, in large-sized (MW) wind turbines, damage is prevented because of the use of a pitch control system. On the other hand, pitch control is not performed in small wind turbines since equipment costs and maintenance costs are high, and therefore, the blade will cause serious damage. The wind turbine proposed in this study does not require maintenance, and the blades do not break during high winds because they are folded in accordance with changes in the wind speed. But generators are not cut-out, while maintaining a constant angle will continue to produce. The focus of this study, the wind turbine is continued by folding blade system in strong winds and gusts without stopping production.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 1999

Aerodynamic performance and starting characteristic of wind turbine blade are important factors that determine the whole system as rated power, operating method, etc. Therefore, starting characteristic according to aerodynamic performance, wind speed and blade pitch angle should be examined while wind turbine blade is designed. In this study, the aerodynamic analysis program of 750㎾ class horizontal axis wind turbine blade was developed and to certify this program, the aerodynamic performance of the commercialized blade was analyzed with it. The analysis result was corresponding to the value presented from manufacturer. And the starting analysis program was developed on the basis of the developed aerodynamic analysis program and starting analysis was performed. As a result, it was confirmed that variable speed operation and variable pitch control are profitable to wind turbine used in low wind speed as our country.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.663-678
• /
• 2020

Robust semi-active vibration control of wind turbines using tuned mass dampers (TMDs) is a promising technique. This study investigates a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine controlled by eight different types of tuned mass damper systems of equal mass: a passive TMD, a semi-active varying-spring TMD, a semi-active varying-damper TMD, a semi-active varying-damper-and-spring TMD, as well as these four damper systems paired with an additional smaller passive TMD near the mid-point of the tower. The mechanism and controllers for each of these TMD systems are explained, such as employing magnetorheological dampers for the varying-damper TMD cases. The turbine is modelled as a lumped-mass 3D finite element model. The uncontrolled and controlled turbines are subjected to loading and operational cases including service wind loads on operational turbines, seismic loading with service wind on operational turbines, and high-intensity storm wind loads on parked turbines. The displacement and acceleration responses of the tower at the first and second mode shape maxima were used as the performance indicators. Ultimately, it was found that while all the semi-active TMD systems outperformed the passive systems, it was the semi-active varying-damper-and-spring system that was found to be the most effective overall - capable of controlling vibrations about as effectively with only half the mass as a passive TMD. It was also shown that by reducing the mass of the TMD and adding a second smaller TMD below, the vibrations near the mid-point could be greatly reduced at the cost of slightly increased vibrations at the tower top.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.128-131
• /
• 2005

In this paper a robust controller using adaptive backstepping technique is proposed to control the speed of a wind turbine system. To make wind power generation truly cost effective and reliable, advanced and robust control algorithms are derived to on-line adjust the excitation winding voltage of the generator based on both mechanical and electrical dynamics. This method is shown to be able to achieve smooth and asymptotic rotor position tracking, as justified by analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2009

Monitoring system is an absolutely-required system for assessing a performance and fatigue load of the wind turbine in an on-shore wind energy experimental research complex. It was implemented for the purpose of monitoring the wind information measured from a meteorological tower at the monitoring house, and of utilizing the measured data(fatigue data and electric analyzing data of wind turbine)for the performance assessment, by using the LabVIEW program. Then, by adding the performance assessment-related data acquired from the wind turbine during the performance assessment and the data recorder for synchronizing the data of meteorological tower, the system(BusDAQ) was implemented. Because it transmitted the data by converting the output 'RS-232' of data logger which measures the wind condition into CAN protocol, the data error rate was minimized. Also, This paper is introduced to make the best use of the developed monitoring system and to explain about construct of the system and detailed data communication of its system.