{"title":"Drivers for optimum sizing of wind turbines for offshore wind farms","authors":"M. Mehta, M. Zaaijer, Dominic von Terzi","doi":"10.5194/wes-9-141-2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-141-2024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Large-scale exploitation of offshore wind energy is deemed essential to provide its expected share to electricity needs of the future. To achieve the same, turbine and farm-level optimizations play a significant role. Over the past few years, the growth in the size of turbines has massively contributed to the reduction in costs. However, growing turbine sizes come with challenges in rotor design, turbine installation, supply chain, etc. It is, therefore, important to understand how to size wind turbines when minimizing the levelized cost of electricity (LCoE) of an offshore wind farm. Hence, this study looks at how the rated power and rotor diameter of a turbine affect various turbine and farm-level metrics and uses this information in order to identify the key design drivers and how their impact changes with setup. A multi-disciplinary design optimization and analysis (MDAO) framework is used to perform the analysis. The framework uses low-fidelity models that capture the core dependencies of the outputs on the design variables while also including the trade-offs between various disciplines of the offshore wind farm. The framework is used, not to estimate the LCoE or the optimum turbine size accurately, but to provide insights into various design drivers and trends. A baseline case, for a typical setup in the North Sea, is defined where LCoE is minimized for a given farm power and area constraint with the International Energy Agency 15 MW reference turbine as a starting point. It is found that the global optimum design, for this baseline case, is a turbine with a rated power of 16 MW and a rotor diameter of 236 m. This is already close to the state-of-the-art designs observed in the industry and close enough to the starting design to justify the applied scaling. A sensitivity study is also performed that identifies the design drivers and quantifies the impact of model uncertainties, technology/cost developments, varying farm design conditions, and different farm constraints on the optimum turbine design. To give an example, certain scenarios, like a change in the wind regime or the removal of farm power constraint, result in a significant shift in the scale of the optimum design and/or the specific power of the optimum design. Redesigning the turbine for these scenarios is found to result in an LCoE benefit of the order of 1 %–2 % over the already optimized baseline. The work presented shows how a simplified approach can be applied to a complex turbine sizing problem, which can also be extended to metrics beyond LCoE. It also gives insights into designers, project developers, and policy makers as to how their decision may impact the optimum turbine scale.\u0000","PeriodicalId":509667,"journal":{"name":"Wind Energy Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139614357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vincent K. Maes, T. Macquart, Paul M. Weaver, A. Pirrera
{"title":"Sensitivity of cross-sectional compliance to manufacturing tolerances for wind turbine blades","authors":"Vincent K. Maes, T. Macquart, Paul M. Weaver, A. Pirrera","doi":"10.5194/wes-9-165-2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-165-2024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Wind turbine blades are complex structures and, despite advancements in analysis techniques, differences persist between predictions of their elastic response and experimental results. This undermines confidence in the ability to reliably design and certify novel blade designs that include self-regulating features like bend–twist coupling. To address these discrepancies, this study investigates the influence of manufacturing tolerances on the compliance properties of blade cross-sections, focusing specifically on a previously disregarded feature: the trailing edge bondline. To conduct this investigation, the validated cross-sectional modelling tools BECAS and VABS are used to demonstrate that even small geometric variations can have significant influence on cross-sectional stiffness properties. The results are further examined and substantiated through the utilisation of 3D finite element models, adopting both shell and solid elements. We reaffirm that an accurate geometric representation of the cross-section is necessary to adequately capture the shear flow within it and assure accurate predictions on cross-sectional stiffness properties, providing updated guidelines for designers in industry.\u0000","PeriodicalId":509667,"journal":{"name":"Wind Energy Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139615532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Breakdown of the velocity and turbulence in the wake of a wind turbine – Part 1: Large-eddy-simulation study","authors":"Erwan Jézéquel, Frederic Blondel, Valery Masson","doi":"10.5194/wes-9-97-2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-97-2024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. A new theoretical framework, based on an analysis in the moving and fixed frames of reference (MFOR and FFOR), is proposed to break down the velocity and turbulence fields in the wake of a wind turbine. This approach adds theoretical support to models based on the dynamic wake meandering (DWM) and opens the way for a fully analytical and physically based model of the wake that takes meandering and atmospheric stability into account, which is developed in the companion paper. The mean velocity and turbulence in the FFOR are broken down into different terms, which are functions of the velocity and turbulence in the MFOR. These terms can be regrouped as pure terms and cross terms. In the DWM, the former group is modelled, and the latter is implicitly neglected. The shape and relative importance of the different terms are estimated with the large-eddy-simulation solver Meso-NH coupled with an actuator line method. A single wind turbine wake is simulated on flat terrain, under three cases of stability: neutral, unstable and stable. In the velocity breakdown, the cross term is found to be relatively low. It is not the case for the turbulence breakdown equation where even though the cross terms are overall of lesser magnitude than the pure terms, they redistribute the turbulence and induce a non-negligible asymmetry. These findings underline the limitations of models that assume a steady velocity in the MFOR, such as the DWM or the model developed in the companion paper. It is also found that as atmospheric stability increases, the pure turbulence contribution becomes relatively larger and pure meandering relatively smaller.\u0000","PeriodicalId":509667,"journal":{"name":"Wind Energy Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139615167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Towards real-time optimal control of wind farms using large-eddy simulations","authors":"Nick Janssens, J. Meyers","doi":"10.5194/wes-9-65-2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-65-2024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Large-eddy simulations (LESs) are commonly considered too slow to serve as a practical wind farm control model. Using coarser grid resolutions, this study examines the feasibility of LES for real-time, receding-horizon control to optimize the overall energy extraction in wind farms. By varying the receding-horizon parameters (i.e. the optimization horizon and control update time) and spatiotemporal resolution of the LES control models, we investigate the trade-off between computational speed and controller performance. The methodology is validated on the TotalControl Reference Wind Power Plant using a fine-grid LES model as a wind farm emulator. Analysis of the resulting power gains reveals that the performance of the controllers is primarily determined by the receding-horizon parameters, whereas the grid resolution has minor impact on the overall power extraction. By leveraging these insights, we achieve near-parity between our LES-based controller and real-time computational speed, while still maintaining competitive power gains up to 40 %.\u0000","PeriodicalId":509667,"journal":{"name":"Wind Energy Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139619051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aiguo Zhou, Jinlei Shi, Tao Dong, Yi Ma, Zhenhui Weng
{"title":"Nonlinear vibration characteristics of virtual mass systems for wind turbine blade fatigue testing","authors":"Aiguo Zhou, Jinlei Shi, Tao Dong, Yi Ma, Zhenhui Weng","doi":"10.5194/wes-9-49-2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-49-2024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. The biaxial fatigue test of wind turbine blades is helpful to shorten the test time and is more suitable for the actual operating conditions. Adding tuning masses to the blade is a common method for blade uniaxial testing at present, and its purpose is to adjust the load distribution in one direction of the blade. However, the tuning masses on the blade will affect the load distribution in the direction of the blade flap-wise and edge-wise at the same time in the biaxial test, so the concept of “virtual masses” is proposed to realize the decoupling of the load distribution in the biaxial test. Due to the limitation of the size of the virtual mass mechanism and the complex motion trajectory of the blade, the actual inertial effect provided by the virtual masses is different from the ideal situation, which will affect the resonance characteristics of the test system and the load distribution of the blade. Therefore, in order to evaluate the effect of the nonlinear effect introduced by the virtual masses on the resonance characteristics of the test system and the blade load distribution, the equivalent dynamic model of the bladed virtual mass test system was established by using the Lagrange method. Then, the nonlinear effects of blade amplitude and virtual mass installation parameters on the test system are obtained by a numerical method. Then, based on the nonlinear vibration theory, the approximate nonlinear amplitude–frequency characteristics of the test system are obtained, that is, the resonance frequency of the test system will decrease with the increase in the blade amplitude. Through the simulation analysis of two blades over 80 m in length, the applicability of the theoretical method is verified. It can be seen from the simulation results of the simulated uniaxial test that larger amplitudes of the blade and shorter connection rods will reduce the resonance frequency of the test system. When the vibration amplitude at the excitation point is the same, a lower resonance frequency results in a smaller load distribution level, that is, the area which is actually fully tested will be reduced. In the biaxial simulation test, the resonance frequency of the test system will be further reduced because the virtual masses will be affected by the coupled motion in both directions at the same time. Furthermore, the introduction of an external mechanism of the virtual mass will also cause deformation of the envelope of the blade biaxial trajectory, which will further affect the load distribution of the blade. This work explores the nonlinear influence of virtual masses on the actual fatigue test. The theoretical analysis is helpful to provide the basis and reference for the preliminary preparation work of the test organization, including adjusting the tuning mass scheme, adjusting the load distribution and selecting the appropriate excitation equipment.\u0000","PeriodicalId":509667,"journal":{"name":"Wind Energy Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139619447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Etienne Muller, Simone Gremmo, F. Houtin-Mongrolle, B. Duboc, Pierre Bénard
{"title":"Field-data-based validation of an aero-servo-elastic solver for high-fidelity large-eddy simulations of industrial wind turbines","authors":"Etienne Muller, Simone Gremmo, F. Houtin-Mongrolle, B. Duboc, Pierre Bénard","doi":"10.5194/wes-9-25-2024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-9-25-2024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. To design the next generations of wind turbines, engineers from the wind energy industry must now have access to new numerical tools, allowing the high-fidelity simulation of complex physical phenomena and thus a further calibration of lower-order models. For instance, the rotors of offshore wind turbines, whose diameters can now exceed 200 m, are highly flexible and fluid–structure interactions cannot be neglected any longer. Accordingly, this paper presents a new aero-servo-elastic solver designed to perform high-fidelity large-eddy simulation (LES) of wind turbines, as well as of rotor–wake interactions classically occurring in wind farms. In this framework, the turbine blades are modeled as flexible actuator lines. In terms of operating parameters (rotation speed and pitch angles) and power output, the solver is first validated against field data from the Westermost Rough offshore wind farm, for three different operation points. A very good agreement between the numerical results and field data is obtained. To push the validation further, additional results are compared to those given by a certified aero-servo-elastic solver used in the industry, which relies on a blade element momentum (BEM) method. The internal loads throughout the first blade and the deflections at the tip are studied in detail, and some discrepancies are observed. Of a reasonable amplitude overall, those are legitimately related to intrinsic modeling differences between the two solvers.\u0000","PeriodicalId":509667,"journal":{"name":"Wind Energy Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139624415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}