The following thesis document researches into creating a model to represent the behavior of a wind turbine gearbox. This model is developed based on the overall parameters of a NORDEX N90 2.5MW wind turbine developed by a German company Nordex SE. This research focuses on the combination of a flexible body and a multibody dynamics analysis software. This is done through the usage of MSC ADAMS, a multibody dynamic analysis program, and MSC Patran/Nastran, a finite element analysis software, and its associated solver. The model is created to show the vibration patterns of a healthy gearbox with rigid bodies, with a flexible body, and with a defect applied on a particular gear in the planetary gear systems that is representative of the N90 wind turbine. The flexible body incorporation allows for stress analysis of different gear teeth at different locations. Using this model a vibration signature is generated for a specific type of defect.

Nordex, a wind-turbine manufacturer and developer, has just launched the development activity over Belgium’s French-speaking Region – the Walloon Region – with the current political context favorable to wind energy deployment. Since the Walloon market is unknown, the master thesis aims to identify the appropriate approach to use for optimal wind farm development and the critical issues that may impinge on it. The scope of the master thesis is thus to find two to three sites well suited for wind farm implementation in the province of Luxembourg and to develop these sites.  An exhaustive study of the wind farm potential of the province of Luxembourg has been led, based on geographic data analysis with the GIS ArcGIS®, feasibility studies conducting, meetings with districts’ administration as well as visits onsite. In addition, a thorough comparative analysis of the Belgian specification for grid connection has been performed to identify any requirement that is not included in the French and German grid codes, which are the benchmarks of the development activity in Nordex France. Many obstacles have been encountered in wind farm development, chiefly a strong existing competition in the wind energy sector and a limited grid capacity. In addition time can be a friend but it can also sometimes be a foe at some stages that rely on public administration. Consequently from the 40 identified sites with ArcGIS®, only three have succeeded. Regarding the Belgian requirements for grid connection, all can be met thanks to an existing German specification data sheet. Eventually the Walloon policy towards wind energy development is expected to evolve so as to foster wind farm deployment in Wallonia and to reach the objectives set for 2020 (2200 MW of installed wind capacity while in January 2011 only 440 MW were in operation). Consequently to that, Nordex’ approach may have to adapt to the new regulations.