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Wind turbine drivetrains

State-of-the-art technologies and future development trends

Review (2022)
Author(s)

Amir R. Nejad (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

Jonathan Keller (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Yi Guo (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Shawn Sheng (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Henk Polinder (TU Delft - Transport Engineering and Logistics)

Simon Watson (TU Delft - Wind Energy)

Jianning Dong (TU Delft - DC systems, Energy conversion & Storage)

Zian Qin (TU Delft - DC systems, Energy conversion & Storage)

Amir Ebrahimi (Leibniz University of Hannover)

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Research Group
Transport Engineering and Logistics
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-387-2022
More Info
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Publication Year
2022
Language
English
Research Group
Transport Engineering and Logistics
Issue number
1
Volume number
7
Pages (from-to)
387-411
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Abstract

This paper presents the state-of-the-art technologies and development trends of wind turbine drivetrains – the system that converts kinetic energy of the wind to electrical energy – in different stages of their life cycle: design, manufacturing, installation, operation, lifetime extension, decommissioning and recycling. Offshore development and digitalization are also a focal point in this study. Drivetrain in this context includes the whole power conversion system: main bearing, shafts, gearbox, generator and power converter. The main aim of this article is to review the drivetrain technology development as well as to identify future challenges and research gaps. The main challenges in drivetrain research identified in this paper include drivetrain dynamic responses in large or floating turbines, aerodynamic and farm control effects, use of rare-earth material in generators, improving reliability through prognostics, and use of advances in digitalization. These challenges illustrate the multidisciplinary aspect of wind turbine drivetrains, which emphasizes the need for more interdisciplinary research and collaboration.