Linear relationship of damping ratios in resonance‐type fatigue testing of a wind turbine blade

Damping ratios during resonance‐type fatigue testing of a 44 m wind turbine blade were found with respect to six different test setups. Based on a suggested parameter, six different lines of damping ratios at different test setups were linearized into a single line. Using the line, damping ratios at other plausible test setups can be predicted. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大型风机叶片疲劳加载模式的能耗分析

设计了两套风机叶片疲劳加载试验方案:液压缸强迫加载模式和偏心质量块共振加载模式,并给出了两种模式下的能量耗散方程。采用多级载荷加载试验获得沿叶片展向的挠度分布情况和加载点刚度值,通过叶片的自由衰减试验获得阻尼比值。最后对aeroblade1.5-40.3风机叶片进行1个振动周期的能耗计算,得出在相同振幅下,共振加载模式的能耗小于强迫加载模式能耗的1/3。研究结果为后续的风机叶片疲劳加载试验打下基础。     

Efficient incorporation of fatigue damage constraints in wind turbine blade optimization

Wind turbine design is a challenging multidisciplinary optimization problem, where the aerodynamic shapes, structural member sizing, and material composition must all be determined and optimized. Some previous blade design methods incorporate static loading with an added safety factor to account for dynamic effects. Others incorporate dynamic loading, but in general limit, the evaluation to a few design cases. By not fully incorporating the dynamic loading of the wind turbine, the final turbine blade design is either too conservative by overemphasizing the dynamic effects or infeasible by failing to adequately account for these effects. We propose an iterative method that estimates fatigue effects during the optimization process while quickly converging to the true solution. We also demonstrate an alternate approach where a surrogate model is trained to efficiently estimate the dynamic loading of the wind turbine in the design process. This surrogate model, once trained, was then incorporated in the optimization loop of the wind turbine blade. In contrast to the iterative method, there is significant upfront computational cost to construct the surrogate model. However, this surrogate model has been generalized to be used for different rated turbines and can predict the fatigue damage of a wind turbine with less than 5% error for baseline wind turbines of the same family. These methods can be used instead of the more computationally expensive method of calculating the dynamic loading of the turbine within the optimization routine.     

100kW风力发电机叶片疲劳分析

结合有限元分析方法和叶片振动试验方法,利用最少的试验设备,检测出叶片危险部位的相应数据,以提高疲劳试验的可靠性。通过理论计算和数学建模相结合的方法,确定叶片阴阳两面最大变形位置,使试验条件更符合叶片的实际工况。分析试验结果显示,被测叶片达到了设计标准的要求。     

Influence of blade rotation on the lightning stroke characteristic of a wind turbine

The blades of a wind turbine rotate during normal operation. To investigate the influence of blade rotation on the lightning‐attracting ability of a wind turbine, a discharge test platform is designed for scaled wind turbines. The 50% impulse voltages and flash probabilities of the scaled wind turbines with gap distances of 1 to 8 m in the static and rotary conditions are determined by using the discharge test and selective discharge test. The discharge test for a single wind turbine with a gap of 1 to 2 m indicates that the breakdown voltages of the gap between the scaled turbine and electrodes increases with an increase in the blade rotation speed. However, the discharge test with a gap distance of 4 to 8 m indicates that the breakdown voltage of the fan decreases with an increase in the blade rotation speed. The test results of the scaled dual wind turbines experiment have the same rules. To explain this phenomenon, the influence of wind speed on the space‐charge distribution and electrical field intensity of corona discharge is simulated in the background of a target thundercloud. The rotation of the fan reduces the space‐charge density near the area of the blade tip, which leads to an increase in the field strength near the blade tip of the wind turbine and a decrease in the field strength away from the blade tip. This influence varies in short and long air gap, resulting in opposite relationships between discharge voltage and distance from the tip of the turbine. The results can provide a reference for the lightning protection of wind turbines.     

风电叶片后缘疲劳加载设备摇臂支架结构优化设计

基于模态叠加理论对风电叶片后缘疲劳加载设备摇臂支架进行模态分析和拓扑结构优化。文章通过对风电叶片后缘疲劳加载模型进行合理简化,对摇臂支架所受载荷进行了等效分析,建立了摇臂支架的有限元模型,进而基于模态叠加法对摇臂支架进行动力学响应分析,得到了各阶次的频率分布情况。最后,以各板件厚度为约束条件,建立以质量最轻为目标函数的数学模型,结合OptiStruct软件得到了优化结果。结果表明,优化后的摇臂支架质量减少了985 kg,且在相同工况下,摇臂支架的变形量减少了4.7 mm,验证了优化后摇臂支架结构的可行性,为后缘加载装备的工程应用提供了理论支撑。     

Fluid structure interaction of a morphed wind turbine blade

One serious challenge of energy systems design, wind turbines in particular, is the need to match the system operation to the variable load. This is so because system efficiency drops at off‐design load. One strategy to address this challenge for wind turbine blades and obtain a more consistent efficiency over a wide load range, is varying the blade geometry. Predictable morphing of wind turbine blade in reaction to wind load conditions has been introduced recently. The concept, derived from fish locomotion, also has similarities to spoilers and ailerons, known to reduce flow separation and improve performance using passive changes in blade geometry. In this work, we employ a fully coupled technique on CFD and FEM models to introduce continuous morphing to desired and predetermined blade design geometry, the NACA 4412 profile, which is commonly used in wind turbine applications. Then, we assess the aerodynamic behavior of a morphing wind turbine airfoil using a two‐dimensional computation. The work is focused on assessing aerodynamic forces based on trailing edge deflection, wind speed, and material elasticity, that is, Young's modulus. The computational results suggest that the morphing blade has superior part‐load efficiency over the rigid NACA blade. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of fatigue life prediction method and effect of 10-minute mean wind speed distribution on fatigue life of small wind turbine composite blade

This study aims to develop a fatigue life prediction method and to identify the effect that a 10-minute mean wind speed distribution has on the fatigue life of a small-scale wind turbine composite blade. First, combining the von Karman isotropic turbulence model and the Weibull distribution for a 10-minute mean wind speed provided us with the 1-Hz full wind history for a specific time period. Accordingly, the fatigue stress spectra at the blade's fatigue-critical locations (FCLs) were created by applying a stress tensor, in which the interaction between flapwise and edgewise bending moments was taken into consideration. The fatigue life of a composite blade can be predicted with a reliability R = 95% by applying the P–S–N curve obtained from the constant amplitude fatigue tests and rainflow cycle counting, and cumulative damage rule to the fatigue stress spectra. To acquire the second-order regression equation, nonlinear regression analysis was performed on the fatigue lives, which were simulated by using the proposed fatigue life prediction method. In this equation, the variables were the shape parameter, K, and the scale parameter, C, of the Weibull distribution for a 10-minute mean wind speed. The effects of the Weibull parameters on fatigue life were evaluated through the sensitivity analysis of the equations.     

A summary of the fatigue properties of wind turbine materials

Modern wind turbines are fatigue‐critical machines that are typically used to produce electrical power from the wind. The materials used to construct these machines are subjected to a unique loading spectrum that contains several orders of magnitude more cycles than other fatigue‐critical structures, e.g. an aeroplane. To facilitate fatigue designs, a large database of material properties has been generated over the past several years that is specialized to materials typically used in wind turbines. This article reviews the fatigue data that have been developed especially for wind turbines. Major sections are devoted to the properties developed for metals (primarily aluminium), wood and fibreglass. Special emphasis is placed on the fibreglass discussion because this material is currently the material of choice for wind turbine blades. The article focuses on the data developed in the US, but cites European references that provide important insights. Published in 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Representation of fatigue for wind turbine control

Fatigue is a critical factor in structures such as wind turbines exposed to harsh operating conditions, both in the design stage and in the control during their operation. In the present paper, the most recognized approaches to estimate the damage caused by fatigue in the component level are discussed and compared. The aim of this paper is to address the applicability of those fatigue damage estimation methods to control of wind turbines. Accordingly, for our discussion and comparison, we categorize fatigue estimation methods in a macroscopic scale as counting, spectral, stochastic and hysteresis operator methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大型水平轴式风电叶片的结构设计

风电叶片是风力发电设备的关键部件之一,其制造成本占总成本的20%～30%.叶片结构是叶片捕获风能的保证,并直接影响风力发电设备的运行寿命.因此,叶片结构设计的好坏在很大程度上决定了风力发电设备的可靠性和利用风能的成本.文章从材料、结构形式、铺层设计、结构分析等4个方面详细地阐述了风电叶片结构的设计技术.     

Numerical validation of a finite element thin‐walled beam model of a composite wind turbine blade

This paper presents a numerical validation of a thin‐walled beam (TWB) finite element (FE) model of a realistic wind turbine rotor blade. Based on the theory originally developed by Librescu et al. and later extended to suit FE modelling by Phuong, Lee and others, this computationally efficient yet accurate numerical model is capable of capturing most of the features found in large blades including thin‐walled hollow cross section with variable thickness along the section's contour, inner reinforcements, arbitrary material layup and non‐linear anisotropic fibre‐reinforced composites; the present application is, for the time being, restricted to linearity. This one‐dimensional (1D) FE model allows retaining information of different regions of the blade's shell and therefore approximates the behaviour of more complex three‐dimensional (3D) shell or solid FE models more accurately than typical 1D FE beam models. A 9.2 m rotor blade, previously reported in specialized literature, was chosen as a case study to validate the static and dynamic behaviour predicted by a TWB model against an industry‐standard 3D shell model built in a commercial software tool. Given the geometric and material complexities involved, an excellent agreement was found for static deformation curves, as well as a good prediction of the lowest frequency modes in terms of resonance frequencies, mode shapes and frequency response functions; the highest (sixth) frequency mode shows only a fair agreement as expected for an FE model. It is concluded that despite its simplicity, a TWB FE model is sufficiently accurate to serve as a design tool for the recursive analyses required during design and optimization stages of wind turbines using only readily available computational tools. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

烟气轮机叶片失效分析

分析了烟气轮机叶片失效原因,对叶片裂纹,断口,组织及成分分析的结果表明,叶片失效属共振和冲刷穿孔导致的高周疲劳破裂;叶片涂层结构,组织缺陷分布以及烟气硬粒子是降低叶片使用寿命的重要因素。     

5MW风力发电机复合材料叶片结构力学特性分析

大型风力发电机复合材料叶片的强度、刚度和抵抗屈曲等结构力学特性对风机的性能及寿命有重要的影响。文章结合MATLAB和ANSYS有限元建模方法,建立了含有铺层信息的复合材料叶片三维有限元模型,对5MW风力发电机叶片进行了静态结构力学特性分析;定义了两种极端运行工况,分析和计算了极端工况载荷作用下的叶尖位移及力学特性,得到了应力最大的关键区域及屈曲特征。将仿真分析结果与FAST软件计算结果进行对比,验证了该方法的有效性,为进一步地分析和铺层厚度优化提供了可行的方法和参考依据。     

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.     

A model for the structural dynamic response of the CX‐100 wind turbine blade

A geometrically exact beam model for simulating the structural dynamic response of the CX‐100 wind turbine blade is presented. The underlying geometrically nonlinear theory is detailed, and its implementation into a finite‐element code, NLBeam, developed as part of this research is outlined. The parameters used to represent the varying cross‐sectional distributions of stiffness and mass are calculated consistent with the geometrically exact beam theory by using the variational asymptotic method, as developed by Hodges and Yu et al. through the commercially available code, (VABS) variational asymptotic beam sectional analysis. Code and calculation verification are documented through a systematic grid convergence study applied independently to both the cross‐sectional, and static and dynamic beam simulations. An initial assessment of the model is made by comparing simulation results with experimental test data for three cases: quasistatic loading, linearized modal dynamic behavior and steady‐state oscillating dynamic loads. Simulation results are shown to be in reasonable agreement with experimental data. Future improvements to the model, as well as additional experimental characterization that can benefit such modeling efforts, are outlined. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time‐accurate blade surface static pressure behaviour on a rotating H‐Darrieus wind turbine

Time‐accurate blade pressure distributions on a rotating H‐Darrieus wind turbine at representative tip speed ratios during start‐up are presented here, which allow blade dynamic stall and laminar separation bubbles to be observed clearly and which provide a rare experimental demonstration of the flow curvature effect inherent in H‐Darrieus turbine operation. The convection of a dynamic stall vortex along the blade surface at high reduced frequency has also been clearly identified. This study provides new information of the complex aerodynamics of the vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) and provides unique experimental data to validate the transient blade static surface pressure distribution predicted by CFD models. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that the instantaneous pressure variation around the blade has been measured and recorded directly for an H‐Darrieus wind turbine.     

基于应变模态的风机叶片损伤诊断研究

针对多种受损工况下的风机叶片损伤诊断问题,文章基于模态理论对受损前和受损后的风机叶片进行位移和应变模态分析.首先建立风机叶片的三维模型并对其进行有限元分析;然后模拟叶片两位置不同的损伤状况,比较各工况下位移模态曲线、应变模态曲线和应变模态差分曲线在受损前后的变化规律,进而对叶片进行损伤辨识;最后选取应变模态变化率和由差...