Structural design optimization of the controllable rubber trailing edge flap (CRTEF)

A flap actuation system, the Controllable Rubber Trailing Edge Flap (CRTEF), for distributed load control on a wind turbine blade had been developed in the period from 2006 to 2013 at DTU. The purpose of the project is to optimize the structural design of the flexible part of the CRTEF based on a realistic blade section geometry in order to meet...

Investigation of Root Spoilers on Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

For the purpose of flow analysis, the blade of a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) can be divided into the root, mid and the tip regions. The flow in the root region is very complex and is affected due to the rotation of the blade and separation due to the presence of very thick airfoil sections and the higher angle of attacks. Hence, a...

An innovative approach towards solving the problem of trailing edge buckling of large wind turbine rotor blades

As a result of the increasing mass of rotor blades for large wind turbines, trailing edge buckling is recognized to become one of the critical design drivers. This research project was initiated to investigate a new trailing edge design concept, which is supposed to have a higher buckling capacity, while maintaining its structural performance,...

Great expectations for offshore wind turbines: Emulation of wind farm design to anticipate their value for customers

To date, the technical feasibility of making electricity from offshore wind energy has been convincingly proven. However, the current challenge is to reduce the costs of this form of energy. One of the aspects playing a role in cost reduction is the optimisation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine influences the costs of various elements of an...

Increased Energy Yield using the Smart Rotor: Sizing and Control of Trailing Edge Flaps on a Smart Rotor for Maximum Power Generation in Low Fatigue Wind Regimes

Active aerodynamic load control on wind turbines: Aeroservoelastic modeling and wind tunnel

This thesis investigates particular concepts and technologies that can alleviate fatigue loads on wind turbines by using distributed active aerodynamic devices on the blades, a concept briefly referred to as `smart blades'. Firstly, published research work on smart control devices is reviewed, and the pros and cons for the application on wind...

A Comparative Analysis of the Two-Bladed and the Three-Bladed Wind Turbine for Offshore Wind Farms

Background: As the installation of offshore wind farms continues to increase, the need to optimize on costs involved is a constant factor in the industry. In this regard, research into the two-bladed rotor has garnered some interest in the recent past, to see if the optimum cost can be shifted in the favor of the two-bladed wind turbine....

Controller Design Automation for Aeroservoelastic Design Optimization of Wind Turbines

The purpose of this paper is to integrate the controller design of wind turbines with structure and aerodynamic analysis and use the final product in the design optimization process (DOP) of wind turbines. To do that, the controller design is automated and integrated with an aeroelastic simulation tool. This integrated tool is linked with an...

Rotational Augmentation Disparities in the MEXICO and UAE Phase VI Experiments

Wind turbine structures and components suffer excessive loads and premature failures when key aerodynamic phenomena are not well characterized, fail to be understood, or are inaccurately predicted. Turbine blade rotational augmentation remains incompletely characterized and understood, thus limiting robust prediction for design. Pertinent...

Aeroelasticity of large wind turbines

Estimating the angle of attack from blade pressure measurements on the national renewable energy laboratory phase VI rotor using a free wake vortex model: Yawed conditions

Improving BEM-based Aerodynamic Models in Wind Turbine Design Codes