TMT40.3大型风力机叶片气动性能分析

基于BLADED软件平台,对TMT40.3大型风力机叶片的气动性能进行了分析.分析结果表明:TMT40.3大型风力机叶片应用在GL3A风场时的额定功率能达到1 650 kW,所承受的疲劳强度和极限载荷均能满足该款风力机叶片的设计要求,在叶尖速比为7.8～11.4的风能利用系数均在0.46以上,最高可达0.486,具有较好的气动性能和较宽的风速适应范围.     

Aeroelastic multidisciplinary design optimization of a swept wind turbine blade

Mitigating loads on a wind turbine rotor can reduce the cost of energy. Sweeping blades produces a structural coupling between flapwise bending and torsion, which can be used for load alleviation purposes. A multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) problem is formulated including the blade sweep as a design variable. A multifidelity approach is used to confront the crucial effects of structural coupling on the estimation of the loads. During the MDO, ultimate and damage equivalent loads are estimated using steady‐state and frequency‐domain–based models, respectively. The final designs are verified against time‐domain full design load basis aeroelastic simulations to ensure that they comply with the constraints. A 10‐MW wind turbine blade is optimized by minimizing a cost function that includes mass and blade root flapwise fatigue loading. The design space is subjected to constraints that represent all the necessary requirements for standard design of wind turbines. Simultaneous aerodynamic and structural optimization is performed with and without sweep as a design variable. When sweep is included in the MDO process, further minimization of the cost function can be obtained. To show this achievement, a set of optimized straight blade designs is compared to a set of optimized swept blade designs. Relative to the respective optimized straight designs, the blade mass of the swept blades is reduced of an extra 2% to 3% and the blade root flapwise fatigue damage equivalent load by a further 8%.     

百千瓦中型变速变桨风电机组叶片设计研究

百千瓦级叶片一般采用定桨方式运行,依靠叶片失速进行功率控制,机组运行过程中无法维持较高的效率。基于100 kW变速变桨机组的运行特征,提出了一种100 kW级中型叶片的设计方法。气动设计采用了BEM方法,利用Harp_opt中的优化算法获得较高的气动性能;结构及载荷设计参考IEC标准进行,采用Focus进行铺层设计及结构特性分析。所设计叶片的长度为10.029 m左右,极限及疲劳载荷特性满足GL IIA类风场的运行要求。     

Aero‐structural dynamics of a flexible hub connection for load reduction on two‐bladed wind turbines

In this study, an innovative concept for load reduction on the two‐bladed Skywind 3.4 MW prototype is presented. The load reduction system consists of a flexible coupling between the hub mount, carrying the drive train components including the hub assembly, and a nacelle carrier supported by the yaw bearing. This paper intends to assess the impact of introducing a flexible hub connection on the system dynamics and the aero‐elastic response to aerodynamic load imbalances. In order to limit the rotational joint motion, a cardanic spring‐damper element is introduced between the hub mount and the nacelle carrier flange, which affects the system response and the loads. A parameter variation of the stiffness and damping of the connecting spring‐damper element has been performed in the multi‐body simulation solver Simpack. A deterministic, vertically sheared wind field is applied to induce a periodic aerodynamic imbalance on the rotor. The aero‐structural load reduction mechanisms of the coupled system are thereby identified. It is shown that the fatigue loads on the blades and the turbine support structure are reduced significantly. For a very low structural coupling, however, the corresponding rotational deflections of the hub mount exceed the design limit of operation. The analysis of the interaction between the hub mount motion and the blade aerodynamics in a transient inflow environment indicates a reduction of the angle of attack amplitudes and the corresponding fluctuations of the blade loading. Hence, it can be concluded that load reduction is achieved by a combination of reduced structural coupling and a mitigation of aerodynamic load imbalances. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New vortex‐lift and tangential‐force models for HAWT aerodynamic load prediction

Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) experience three‐dimensional rotational and unsteady aerodynamic phenomena at the rotor blades sections. These highly unsteady three‐dimensional effects have a dramatic impact on the aerodynamic load distributions on the blades, in particular, when they occur at high angles of attack due to stall delay and dynamic stall. Unfortunately, there is no complete understanding of the flow physics yet at these unsteady 3D flow conditions, and hence, the existing published theoretical models are often incapable of modelling the impact on the turbine response realistically. The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight on the combined influence of the stall delay and dynamic stall on the blade load history of wind turbines in controlled and uncontrolled conditions. New dynamic stall vortex and nonlinear tangential force coefficient modules, which integrally take into account the three dimensional rotational effect, are also proposed in this paper. This module along with the unsteady influence of turbulent wind speed and tower shadow is implemented in a blade element momentum (BEM) model to estimate the aerodynamic loads on a rotating blade more accurately. This work presents an important step to help modelling the combined influence of the stall delay and dynamic stall on the load history of the rotating wind turbine blades which is vital to have lighter turbine blades and improved wind turbine design systems.     

小型变桨距风力机的气动优化设计

基于叶素动量理论分析了小型风力机的气动性能分析模型,并提出了叶片的气动优化设计方法.结合叶片制造和应用中的实际要求,设计了10 kW小型变桨距风力机叶片的气动外形.计算结果表明,设计叶片具有良好的气动性能,验证了该设计方法有效实用.     

Model of wind shear conditional on turbulence and its impact on wind turbine loads

We analyse high‐frequency wind velocity measurements from two test stations over a period of several years and at heights ranging from 60 to 200 m, with the objective to validate wind shear predictions as used in load simulations for wind turbine design. A validated wind shear model is thereby proposed for flat terrain and that can significantly decrease the uncertainty associated with fatigue load predictions for wind turbines with large rotors. An essential contribution is the conditioning of wind shear on the 90% quantile of wind turbulence, such that the appropriate magnitude of the design fatigue load is achieved. The proposed wind shear model based on the wind measurements is thereby probabilistic in definition, with shear jointly distributed with wind turbulence. A simplified model for the wind shear exponent is further derived from the full stochastic model. The fatigue loads over different turbine components are evaluated under the full wind measurements, using the developed wind shear model and with standard wind conditions prescribed in the IEC 61400‐1 ed. 3. The results display the effect of the Wöhler exponent and reveal that under moderate turbulence, the effect of wind shear is most pronounced on the blade flap loads. It is further shown that under moderate wind turbulence, the wind shear exponents may be over‐specified in the design standards, and a reduction of wind shear exponent based on the present measurements can contribute to reduced fatigue damage equivalent loads on turbine blades. Although the influence of wind shear on extreme loads was found to be negligible, the IEC 61400‐1 wind shear definition was found to result in non‐conservative estimates of the 50 year extreme blade deflection toward the tower, especially under extreme turbulence conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting wind turbine blade loads and aeroelastic response using a coupled CFD–CSD method

The aeroelastic response and the airloads of horizontal-axis wind turbine rotor blades were numerically investigated using a coupled CFD–CSD method. The blade aerodynamic loads were obtained from a Navier–Stokes CFD flow solver based on unstructured meshes. The blade elastic deformation was calculated using a FEM-based CSD solver which employs a nonlinear coupled flap-lag-torsion beam theory. The coupling of the CFD and CSD solvers was accomplished in a loosely coupled manner by exchanging the information between the two solvers at infrequent intervals. At first, the present coupled CFD–CSD method was applied to the NREL 5MW reference wind turbine rotor under steady axial flow conditions, and the mean rotor loads and the static blade deformation were compared with other predicted results. Then, the unsteady blade aerodynamic loads and the dynamic blade response due to rotor shaft tilt and tower interference were investigated, along with the influence of the gravitational force. It was found that due to the aeroelastic blade deformation, the blade aerodynamic loads are significantly reduced, and the unsteady dynamic load behaviors are also changed, particularly by the torsional deformation. From the observation of the tower interference, it was also found that the aerodynamic loads are abruptly reduced as the blades pass by the tower, resulting in oscillatory blade deformation and vibratory loads, particularly in the flapwise direction.     

大型风力机风轮气动不平衡的特性研究与验证

为了研究和探索风轮气动不平衡的物理特性,以某2.0 MW三叶片水平轴风力机为研究对象,采用计算机仿真及试验相结合的方法,研究风轮气动不平衡对机组动力学特性、气动性能及气动载荷的影响研究。通过气动特性分析和动力学分析表明,随着风轮叶片安装角的不平衡度增大,其机组性能逐渐下降,塔顶的载荷波动逐渐增大,叶片的挥舞载荷出现明显差异,机舱振动加速度变大。对塔顶振动加速度进行快速傅里叶变换分析,出现明显特征变化。研究过程表明,监测机舱振动加速度和机组功率曲线能有效识别机组气动不平衡程度。     

Review of morphing concepts and materials for wind turbine blade applications

With increasing size of wind turbines, new approaches to load control are required to reduce the stresses in blades. Experimental and numerical studies in the fields of helicopter and wind turbine blade research have shown the potential of shape morphing in reducing blade loads. However, because of the large size of modern wind turbine blades, more similarities can be found with wing morphing research than with helicopter blades. Morphing technologies are currently receiving significant interest from the wind turbine community because of their potential high aerodynamic efficiency, simple construction and low weight. However, for actuator forces to be kept low, a compliant structure is needed. This is in apparent contradiction to the requirement for the blade to be load carrying and stiff. This highlights the key challenge for morphing structures in replacing the stiff and strong design of current blades with more compliant structures. Although not comprehensive, this review gives a concise list of the most relevant concepts for morphing structures and materials that achieve compliant shape adaptation for wind turbine blades.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of a wind turbine service life on the mechanical properties of the material and the blade

This paper presents results out of investigations of the DEBRA‐25 wind turbine blades. Almost unique in the history of modern wind energy, these blades were in operation for 18 years next to a weather station and were investigated afterward. Therefore, the loads experienced in the operational life could be post‐processed accurately with the measured data of the weather station and the turbine. The blades are made of materials that are similar with today's wind turbines. Furthermore, intensive laboratory tests and free field tests have been carried out, and all load assumptions and data and results are still available today. The results include experimental investigations on the moisture content of the load‐carrying material, static and fatigue behavior of the material, the relaxation of the coupling joints, the natural frequencies of the blade and a full scale static blade test. It is shown that the structural performance of the DEBRA‐25 service blades is comparable with modern wind turbine blades. Although some damage was found by visual inspection, the service blade of the DEBRA‐25 showed excellent mechanical behavior in the full scale blade test. Only small changes of the edgewise eigenfrequencies were detected. The pre‐tensioning forces of the IKEA bolts, where the two blade parts are connected, were measured and were still adequate. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A review and design study of blade testing systems for utility-scale wind turbines

Since the blades are one of the most critical components of a wind turbine, representative samples must be experimentally tested in order to ensure that the actual performance of the blades is consistent with their specifications. In particular, it must be demonstrated that the blade can withstand both the ultimate loads and the fatigue loads to which the blade is expected to be subjected during its design service life. In general, there are basically two types of blade testing: static testing and fatigue (or dynamic) testing. This paper includes a summary review of different utility-scale wind turbine blade testing methods and the initial design study of a novel concept for tri-axial testing of large wind turbine blades. This new design is based on a blade testing method that excites the blade in flap-wise and edgewise direction simultaneously. The flap motion of the blade is caused by a dual-axis blade resonance excitation system (BREX). Edgewise motion is delivered by the use of two inclined hydraulic actuators and linear guide rail system is used to move the inclined actuators in the flap-wise direction along the blade motion. The hydraulic system and linear guide rail requirements are analyzed and an initial cost estimate of the proposed system is presented. Recommendations for future work on this proposed system are given in the final section of this work.     

Load analysis of hydraulic‐pneumatic flywheel configurations integrated in a wind turbine rotor

In this paper, the impact on the mechanical loads of a wind turbine due to a previously proposed hydraulic‐pneumatic flywheel system is analysed. Load simulations are performed for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5‐MW wind turbine using fatigue, aerodynamics, structures, and turbulence (FAST). It is discussed why FAST is applied although it cannot simulate variable rotor inertia. Several flywheel configurations, which increase the rotor inertia of the 5‐MW wind turbine by 15%, are implemented in the 61.5‐m rotor blade. Load simulations are performed twice for each configuration: Firstly, the flywheel system is discharged, and secondly, the flywheel is charged. The change in ultimate and fatigue loads on the tower, the low speed shaft, and the rotor blades is juxtaposed for all flywheel configurations. As the blades are mainly affected by the flywheel system, the increase in ultimate and fatigue loads of the blade is evaluated. Simulation results show that the initial design of the flywheel system causes the lowest impact on the mechanical loads of the rotor blades although this configuration is the heaviest.     

Overall design optimization of dedicated outboard airfoils for horizontal axis wind turbine blades

Designing the primary airfoils for the outboard part of wind turbine blades is a complicated problem of balancing structural, aerodynamic, and acoustic requirements. This paper presents an optimization method for the overall performance of outboard wind turbine airfoils. Based on the complex flow characteristics of the rotor blades and the varying requirements along the span of a blade, the design principles of outboard airfoils were investigated. The requirements for improving the structural performance and reducing the aerodynamic noise were combined with the following aerodynamic design considerations: high efficiency, low extreme loads, stability, and a wide operating region. Thus, this paper proposes a new mathematical model for overall airfoil optimization using the airfoil performance evaluation indicators. Then, an integrated optimization design platform is established for outboard airfoils. Through 2 design cases, new airfoils with desirable aerodynamic characteristics and improved overall performance were obtained. Comparisons between the new airfoils and reference airfoils based on numerical predictions indicate that the proposed method with the newly established mathematical model can effectively balance the complex requirements of the airfoil and improve its overall performance. More notably, the design cases also indicate that the established optimization design method can be used to address special designs of outboard airfoils for different blade requirements.     

Active load alleviation potential of adaptive wind turbine blades using shape memory alloy actuators

Upscaling of wind turbine blades calls for implementation of innovative active load control concepts that will facilitate the flawless operation of the machine and reduce the fatigue and ultimate loads that hinder its service life. Based on aeroelastic simulations that prove the enhanced capabilities of combined individual pitch and individual flap control at global wind turbine scale level, a shape adaptive concept that encompasses an articulated mechanism consisting of two subparts is presented. Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators are investigated and assessed as means to control the shape adaptive mechanism at airfoil section level in order to alleviate the developed structural loads. The concept is embedded in the trailing edge region of the blade of a 10‐MW horizontal axis wind turbine and acts as a flap mechanism. Numerical simulations are performed considering various wind velocities and morphing target shapes and trajectories for both normal and extreme turbulence conditions. The results prove the potential of the concept, since the SMA controlled actuators can accurately follow the target trajectories. Power requirements are estimated at 0.22% of the AEP of the machine, while fatigue and ultimate load reduction of the flap‐wise bending moment at the blade root is 27.6% and 7.4%, respectively.     

Load alleviation of wind turbines by yaw misalignment

Vertical wind shear is one of the dominating causes of load variations on the blades of a horizontal axis wind turbine. To alleviate the varying loads, wind turbine control systems have been augmented with sensors and actuators for individual pitch control. However, the loads caused by a vertical wind shear can also be affected through yaw misalignment. Recent studies of yaw control have been focused on improving the yaw alignment to increase the power capture at below rated wind speeds. In this study, the potential of alleviating blade load variations induced by the wind shear through yaw misalignment is assessed. The study is performed through simulations of a reference turbine. The study shows that optimal yaw misalignment angles for minimizing the blade load variations can be identified for both deterministic and turbulent inflows. It is shown that the optimal yaw misalignment angles can be applied without power loss for wind speeds above rated wind speed. In deterministic inflow, it is shown that the range of the steady‐state blade load variations can be reduced by up to 70%. For turbulent inflows, it is shown that the potential blade fatigue load reductions depend on the turbulence level. In inflows with high levels of turbulence, the observed blade fatigue load reductions are small, whereas the blade fatigue loads are reduced by 20% at low turbulence levels. For both deterministic and turbulent inflows, it is seen that the blade load reductions are penalized by increased load variations on the non‐rotating turbine parts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

风力机叶片动态气弹变形及其对整机性能的影响

基于风力机整机刚柔耦合模型,文章提出了一种叶片动态气弹扭转变形分析的新方法。该方法采用SIMPACK和AeroDyn软件联合数值仿真对风力机在几种恶劣风况下进行动力学分析,通过对分析结果的变换处理,进而得到叶片在复杂工况下的动态气弹变形数据。采用该方法,重点分析了叶片气弹扭转变形对风力机气动功率及气弹稳定性的影响。该方法为大型风电叶片的气弹特性评价以及气弹剪裁设计提供了一种新的技术手段。     

Advanced control algorithms for reduction of wind turbine structural loads

To enable further growth of wind turbine dimensions and rated power, it is essential to decrease structural loads that wind turbines experience. Therefore a great portion of research is focused on control algorithms for reduction of wind turbine structural loads, but typically wind turbine rotor is considered to be perfectly symmetrical, and therefore such control algorithms cannot reduce structural loads caused by rotor asymmetries. Furthermore, typical approach in the literature is to use blade load measurements, especially when higher harmonics of structural loads are being reduced. In this paper, improvements to standard approach for reduction of structural loads are proposed. First, control algorithm capable of reducing structural loads caused by rotor asymmetries is developed, and then appropriate load transformations are introduced that enable presented control algorithms to use load measurements from various wind turbine components. Simulation results show that proposed control algorithm is capable of reducing structural loads caused by rotor asymmetries.     

Load Mitigation with Bending/Twist‐coupled Blades on Rotors using Modern Control Strategies

The prospect of installing blades that twist as they bend and/or extend on horizontal axis wind turbines provides opportunities for enhanced energy capture and/or load mitigation. Although this coupling could be achieved in either an active or a passive manner, the passive approach is much more attractive owing to its simplicity and economy. As an example, a blade design might employ coupling between bending and twisting, so that as the blade bends owing to the action of the aerodynamic loads, it also twists, modifying the aerodynamic performance in some way. For reducing loads the blades are designed to twist towards feather as they bend. For variable‐speed pitch‐controlled rotors, dynamic computer simulations with turbulent inflow show that twist coupling substantially decreases fatigue damage over all wind speeds, without reducing average power. Maximum loads also decrease modestly. For constant‐speed stall‐controlled and variable‐speed stall‐controlled rotors, significant decreases in fatigue damage are observed at the lower wind speeds and smaller decreases at the higher wind speeds. Maximum loads also decrease slightly. As a general observation, whenever a rotor is operating in the linear aerodynamic range (lower wind speeds for stall control and all wind speeds for pitch control), substantial reductions in fatigue damage are realized. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A critical assessment of computer tools for calculating composite wind turbine blade properties

The purpose of this paper is to critically assess several computer tools for calculating the inertial and structural properties of wind turbine blades. The theoretical foundation of each tool is briefly summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of each tool are pointed out. Several benchmark examples, including a circular aluminium tube, a highly heterogeneous section, a multi‐layer composite pipe, an isotropic blade‐like section and a realistic composite wind turbine blade are used to evaluate the performance of different tools. Such a systematic and critical assessment provides guidance for wind turbine blade engineers to choose the right tool for effective design and analysis of wind turbine blades. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.