With the advantage of modern high speed computers, there has been an increased interest in the use of first-principles based computational approaches for the aerodynamic modeling of horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT). Since these approaches are based on the laws of conservation (mass, momentum, and energy), they can capture much of the physics in great detail. The ability to accurately predict the airloads and power output can greatly aid the designers in tailoring the aerodynamic and aeroelastic features of the configuration. First-principles based analyses are also valuable for developing active means (e.g., circulation control), and passive means (e.g., Gurney flaps) of reducing unsteady blade loads, mitigating stall, and for efficient capture of wind energy leading to more electrical power generation. In this present study, the aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine rotor equipped with circulation enhancement technology (trailing edge blowing or Gurney flaps) is investigated using a three-dimensional unsteady viscous flow analysis. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Phase VI horizontal axis wind turbine is chosen as the baseline configuration. Prior to its use in exploring these concepts, the flow solver is validated with the experimental data for the baseline case under yawed flow conditions. Results presented include radial distribution of normal and tangential forces, shaft torque, root flap moment, surface pressure distributions at selected radial locations, and power output. Results show that good agreement has been for a range of wind speeds and yaw angles, where the flow is attached. At high wind speeds, however, where the flow is fully separated, it was found that the fundamental assumptions behind this present methodology breaks down for the baseline turbulence model (Spalart-Allmaras model), giving less accurate results. With the implementation of advanced turbulence model, Spalart-Allmaras Detached Eddy Simulation (SA-DES), the accuracy of the results at high wind speeds are improved. Results of circulation enhancement concepts show that, at low wind speed (attached flow) conditions, a Coanda jet at the trailing edge of the rotor blade is effective at increasing circulation resulting in an increase of lift and the chordwise thrust force. This leads to an increased amount of net power generation compared to the baseline configuration for moderate blowing coefficients. The effects of jet slot height and pulsed jet are also investigated in this study. A passive Gurney flap was found to increase the bound circulation and produce increased power in a manner similar to the Coanda jet. At high wind speed where the flow is separated, both the Coanda jet and Gurney flap become ineffective. Results of leading edge blowing indicate that a leading edge blowing jet is found to be beneficial in increasing power generation at high wind speeds. The effect of Gurney flap angle is also studied. Gurney flap angle has significant influence in power generation. Higher power output is obtained at higher flap angles.

Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο αναφέρονται χαρακτηριστικά της αιολικής ενέργειας. Μελετάται η ισχύς του ανέμου όπου βλέπουμε στοιχεία όπως τον τρόπο που σχηματίζονται οι άνεμοι, και περιγράφονται τα στοιχεία τη ανεμογεννήτριας και τα χαρακτηριστικά της αιολικής απόδοσης. Παρουσιάζονται τέλος, συνοπτικά, μερικά εισαγωγικά στοιχεία για τις κατανεμημένες παραγωγές, για τις κατανεμημένες πηγές ενέργειας και τον τρόπο που διανέμεται η παραγωγή της ενέργειας. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο της διπλωματικής εργασίας γίνεται περιγραφή των φορτίων που υπάρχουν στα ηλεκτρικά κινητήρια συστήματα. Μελετάμε τη δομή αυτών και τα κατηγοριοποιούμε με κριτήριο τη ροπή τους. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο μελετάμε το τριφασικό βραχυκύκλωμα και τον τριφασικό διακόπτη. Αναφέρουμε τις παραμέτρους που παίζουν ρόλο στο βραχυκύκλωμα, τον τρόπο που συμπεριφέρεται μία μηχανή σε αυτό και τις συνιστώσες συνεχούς μεταβαλλόμενου ρεύματος. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο περιγράφουμε τον τριφασικό μετασχηματιστή. Μελετάμε τις συνθήκες σύνδεσης αυτών και τον τρόπο που συνδέονται. Στο πέμπτο κεφάλαιο μελετάμε τις ανεμογεννήτριες μεταβλητής ταχύτητας, τον έλεγχο που γίνεται στον ανεμοκινητήρα για την ισχύ , τα κατάλληλα ηλεκτρονικά που χρησιμοποιούμε στις ανεμογεννήτριες, τους μετατροπείς συχνότητας και τα είδη γεννητριών. Αναφέρονται οι συνδεσμολογίες τους και ο τρόπος που ελέγχουμε τάσεις, ενεργό και άεργο ισχύ μέσω συστημάτων αυτομάτου ελέγχου. Στο έκτο κεφάλαιο γίνεται ανάλυση του αιολικού συστήματος μεταβλητών στροφών , όπου βλέπουμε τον μετασχηματισμό Park για τη μετατροπή συστήματος αξόνων, αναλύουμε το μοντέλο της μηχανής σε άλλο πλαίσιο αναφοράς (d – q) και εφαρμόζουμε διανυσματικό έλεγχο. Στο έβδομο κεφάλαιο σχεδιάζουμε το σύστημα που μελετάμε με το πρόγραμμα MATLAB / Simulink, Γίνεται μία αναφορά στους ελέγχους που μελετήθηκαν στο πέμπτο κεφάλαιο, χρησιμοποιώντας τους για την εξομοίωση. Αναλύουμε τον τρόπο που αρχικοποιούμε το σύστημά μας και εξομοιώνουμε το σύστημα με τις ανεμογεννήτριες παραθέτοντας τις απαραίτητες κυματομορφές. / The first chapter indicates characteristics of wind energy. Studied the wind power, where we see how winds are formed, and we describe the elements of wind and the characteristics of wind performance. Presented finally, briefly, a few introductory information on distributed generation for distributed energy sources. In the second chapter, there is a description of the electric motor systems loads. We study their structure and categorize them according to their torque. In the third chapter we study the three-phase fault and three phase switch. We report the parameters that play a role in short and how it behaves a machine on it. The fourth chapter describes the three-phase transformer. We study the association of these conditions and it is connected. In the fifth chapter we study the variable wind speed control, in Wind Turbines, the power, electronics that we use, frequency inverters and types of generators. We specify the connections and the way we control voltages, active and reactive power through control systems. The sixth chapter is an analysis of the variable wind speed system, where we see Park transformation to convert the axis system, we analyze the model of the machine in another frame of reference (d - q) and apply vector control. In the seventh chapter we design the system with the program MATLAB / Simulink, simulating the system. We analyze the way that we do the initialization of our system in order to simulate in several wind speeds, giving the necessary waveforms.

Atualmente, a geração eólica é a forma de geração de energia elétrica de maior crescimento no mundo. Não obstante, dependendo da forma em que é gerenciado este tipo de geração, pode causar impactos significativos no sistema de energia elétrica. Este trabalho estuda o comportamento da geração eólica nos sistemas de potência do ponto de vista dos aerogeradores e dos parques eólicos. É realizada uma modelagem dos principais componentes dos sistemas de geração eólica, particularmente dos aerogeradores de velocidade variável equipados com geradores de indução de dupla alimentação, com o intuito de aplicar estratégias de controle para a operação dos mesmos e estudar as suas características de funcionamento. São propostos métodos para a regulação da potência ativa gerada por estes aerogeradores e para a regulação da potência ativa gerada por parques eólicos compostos por vários aerogeradores de velocidade variável, com o objetivo de permitir um maior índice de penetração da geração eólica nos sistemas de energia elétrica. Usando a modelagem elaborada, são efetuadas rigorosas simulações computacionais do comportamento destas instalações eólicas funcionando com os métodos de regulação propostos. Os resultados obtidos nestas simulações mostram que o impacto da geração eólica pode ser consideravelmente diminuído, logrando atribuições semelhantes aos produtores de energia convencionais. Observa-se que estes métodos permitiriam flexibilizar a operação dos sistemas de geração eólica, possibilitando gerenciamentos mais adequados aos novos requerimentos exigidos pelos operadores dos sistemas de energia. / Nowadays, the wind power generation is the fastest growing electric power source in the world. Nevertheless, depending on the management of this kind of generation, it may cause significant impact in the power system. In this work, a modeling of the main components of wind power generation was performed, particularly of variable speed wind turbines with doubly fed induction generators, aiming to apply control strategies for its operation and to study its functional characteristics. Methods to regulate the active power generated by variable speed wind turbines, and to regulate the active power of wind farms composed of several of this turbines, are proposed with the objective to allow an increase in the level of penetration of wind generation in the power systems. Using the elaborated modeling, rigorous computational simulations of operation of these types of power stations, operating with the proposed methods, were accomplished. The obtained results in these simulations shows that it is possible to considerably minimize the wind power generation impacts, obtaining attributions similarly to conventional energy producers. It is observed that the proposed methods allows an operational flexibility of wind power generation, enabling a better management according to the new requirement of the power system operators.

Atualmente, a geração eólica é a forma de geração de energia elétrica de maior crescimento no mundo. Não obstante, dependendo da forma em que é gerenciado este tipo de geração, pode causar impactos significativos no sistema de energia elétrica. Este trabalho estuda o comportamento da geração eólica nos sistemas de potência do ponto de vista dos aerogeradores e dos parques eólicos. É realizada uma modelagem dos principais componentes dos sistemas de geração eólica, particularmente dos aerogeradores de velocidade variável equipados com geradores de indução de dupla alimentação, com o intuito de aplicar estratégias de controle para a operação dos mesmos e estudar as suas características de funcionamento. São propostos métodos para a regulação da potência ativa gerada por estes aerogeradores e para a regulação da potência ativa gerada por parques eólicos compostos por vários aerogeradores de velocidade variável, com o objetivo de permitir um maior índice de penetração da geração eólica nos sistemas de energia elétrica. Usando a modelagem elaborada, são efetuadas rigorosas simulações computacionais do comportamento destas instalações eólicas funcionando com os métodos de regulação propostos. Os resultados obtidos nestas simulações mostram que o impacto da geração eólica pode ser consideravelmente diminuído, logrando atribuições semelhantes aos produtores de energia convencionais. Observa-se que estes métodos permitiriam flexibilizar a operação dos sistemas de geração eólica, possibilitando gerenciamentos mais adequados aos novos requerimentos exigidos pelos operadores dos sistemas de energia. / Nowadays, the wind power generation is the fastest growing electric power source in the world. Nevertheless, depending on the management of this kind of generation, it may cause significant impact in the power system. In this work, a modeling of the main components of wind power generation was performed, particularly of variable speed wind turbines with doubly fed induction generators, aiming to apply control strategies for its operation and to study its functional characteristics. Methods to regulate the active power generated by variable speed wind turbines, and to regulate the active power of wind farms composed of several of this turbines, are proposed with the objective to allow an increase in the level of penetration of wind generation in the power systems. Using the elaborated modeling, rigorous computational simulations of operation of these types of power stations, operating with the proposed methods, were accomplished. The obtained results in these simulations shows that it is possible to considerably minimize the wind power generation impacts, obtaining attributions similarly to conventional energy producers. It is observed that the proposed methods allows an operational flexibility of wind power generation, enabling a better management according to the new requirement of the power system operators.

Atualmente, a geração eólica é a forma de geração de energia elétrica de maior crescimento no mundo. Não obstante, dependendo da forma em que é gerenciado este tipo de geração, pode causar impactos significativos no sistema de energia elétrica. Este trabalho estuda o comportamento da geração eólica nos sistemas de potência do ponto de vista dos aerogeradores e dos parques eólicos. É realizada uma modelagem dos principais componentes dos sistemas de geração eólica, particularmente dos aerogeradores de velocidade variável equipados com geradores de indução de dupla alimentação, com o intuito de aplicar estratégias de controle para a operação dos mesmos e estudar as suas características de funcionamento. São propostos métodos para a regulação da potência ativa gerada por estes aerogeradores e para a regulação da potência ativa gerada por parques eólicos compostos por vários aerogeradores de velocidade variável, com o objetivo de permitir um maior índice de penetração da geração eólica nos sistemas de energia elétrica. Usando a modelagem elaborada, são efetuadas rigorosas simulações computacionais do comportamento destas instalações eólicas funcionando com os métodos de regulação propostos. Os resultados obtidos nestas simulações mostram que o impacto da geração eólica pode ser consideravelmente diminuído, logrando atribuições semelhantes aos produtores de energia convencionais. Observa-se que estes métodos permitiriam flexibilizar a operação dos sistemas de geração eólica, possibilitando gerenciamentos mais adequados aos novos requerimentos exigidos pelos operadores dos sistemas de energia. / Nowadays, the wind power generation is the fastest growing electric power source in the world. Nevertheless, depending on the management of this kind of generation, it may cause significant impact in the power system. In this work, a modeling of the main components of wind power generation was performed, particularly of variable speed wind turbines with doubly fed induction generators, aiming to apply control strategies for its operation and to study its functional characteristics. Methods to regulate the active power generated by variable speed wind turbines, and to regulate the active power of wind farms composed of several of this turbines, are proposed with the objective to allow an increase in the level of penetration of wind generation in the power systems. Using the elaborated modeling, rigorous computational simulations of operation of these types of power stations, operating with the proposed methods, were accomplished. The obtained results in these simulations shows that it is possible to considerably minimize the wind power generation impacts, obtaining attributions similarly to conventional energy producers. It is observed that the proposed methods allows an operational flexibility of wind power generation, enabling a better management according to the new requirement of the power system operators.

Global wind power generation has grown rapidly in response to targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of efforts to mitigate climate change, and to increase energy security. While much of the focus in wind energy technology to date has been on wind farms, a relatively recent development is the expansion of the micro-wind sector (turbines generating < 100 kW), and there are now over 870,000 small wind turbines (SWTs) installed globally. However, official planning guidance for SWTs in the UK and elsewhere is lacking. This may be a barrier to SWT installations if there is confusion over the requirements to gain planning permission. One reason for the lack of planning guidance is that our understanding of the wildlife impacts of SWTs is limited and therefore it is difficult to make recommendations for their mitigation. There are a range of potential negative effects wind power can exert on wildlife, in particular on birds and bats, yet to date, there has been very little published research into the wildlife impacts of SWTs. Mortality rates of wildlife at SWTs appear to be relatively low, but disturbance of bats, highly protected species, near SWTs has been previously demonstrated. However, the extent (if any) of this disturbance at habitat features of known importance was unclear. Therefore this thesis used acoustic surveys of bat activity to quantify disturbance of use of linear features (e.g. hedgerows, treelines), habitat important to bats for commuting and foraging, caused by SWTs. Firstly, bat activity did decline after experimental installation of SWTs 5m away from linear features. This decline was species-specific with Pipistrellus pygmaeus showing declines in activity in close proximity to the SWT associated with SWT operation, while P. pipistrellus activity declined in response to installation both at the SWT site and 30m away. Secondly, bat use of linear features is lower when SWTs are located nearby. In particular, P. pygmaeus activity at linear features is lower the closer a SWT is to the feature, and at high wind speeds Myotis spp. use of linear features is similarly lower where SWTs are located nearby. This disturbance did not dissipate along the linear features away from the SWT for at least 60m. This is much further than previously documented disturbance of bats by SWTs, which appeared fairly localised, and may be due to the importance of linear features specifically for commuting between habitat fragments. If so, the cumulative impacts of such disturbance will be important in areas where suitable foraging and roosting habitats is limited and fragmented, and linear features suitable for commuting between habitat fragments are already rare. These results offer support for recommendations that SWTs should be subject to siting restrictions that create a buffer distance between them and important bat habitats such as linear features. Specifically, this thesis recommends that in landscapes with few alternative commuting routes or where particularly rare bat species are present SWT installations require buffer distances to ensure they are a minimum of 60m away from linear features. There has also been a lack of research into public attitudes towards SWTs, despite local attitudes towards wind farm developments having been linked to planning outcomes, implying attitudes can be a barrier to installations. This thesis presents the results of the first survey of public attitudes specifically towards SWTs. Generally attitudes towards SWTs were positive, with over half of respondents rating SWTs as acceptable across a range of landscape settings. However, as for wind power where public attitudes in general are positive but local wind farm developments may still face opposition, only 35% of respondents were in favour of having a SWT installed in sight of their home. A key finding of this survey was that acceptance of SWTs significantly differed between landscape settings, with those in hedgerows and gardens being less well accepted compared to those on road signs, buildings and fields. Respondent comments highlighted visual impacts, efficient use of technology, noise impacts, wildlife impacts and educational value as important factors in their decisions regarding SWT acceptability. Public concern about wildlife impacts appears to be responsive to context, being important to the lower acceptance of SWTs in hedgerows, which were perceived to be particularly risky for wildlife. Potential SWT owners are also shown to be concerned about wildlife impacts from SWTs. Using a choice experiment methodology, an economics technique that allows valuation of non-market goods, farmers (a group most likely to own SWTs in the UK) were found to be willing-to-pay, through loss of SWT earnings from electricity generation, to avoid disturbance of birds and bats or collision mortality of bats. These findings also support the recommendation of the use of buffer distances for SWTs. Buffer distances between SWTs and linear features will help to alleviate public and SWT owner concerns about wildlife impacts, and also increase public acceptance of SWTs by encouraging their installation away from some of the least accepted landscape settings such as hedgerows. Further, potential SWT owners were also found to have no significant preference for avoiding siting restrictions of SWT installations, suggesting they are open to the use of buffer distances, although the suggested distances were substantially smaller than those this thesis ultimately recommends. The findings presented in this thesis have implications for planning guidance, policy makers and developers, but also raise many questions that will require further study. A list of planning guidance recommendations and a list of recommendations for future SWT research are presented in the final section.

The development of new types of offshore wind turbine on floating platforms requires the development of new approaches to modelling the combined platform-turbine system. In this thesis a linearised frequency-domain approach is developed which gives fast but approximate results: linearised models of the structural dynamics, hydrodynamics, aerodynamics and control system dynamics are brought together to find the overall response of the floating wind turbine to harmonic wind and wave loading. Initially, a nonlinear flexible multibody dynamics code is developed and verified, which is then used to provide reference nonlinear simulation results. The structural dynamics of a wind turbine on a moving platform are shown to be nonlinear, but for realistic conditions the effects are small. An approximate analysis of the second-order response of floating cylinders to hydrodynamic loads suggests slow drift motion may be relatively small for floating wind turbines, compared to other floating offshore structures. The aerodynamic loads are linearised using both harmonic and tangent linearisation approaches; the harmonic linearisation gives improved results when stall occurs. The wake dynamics can also be included. The control system behaviour is linearised using the same method, which works well when the wind speed is far from the rated wind speed; close to the rated wind speed the nonlinearity is stronger, but further improvement should be possible. These sub-models are combined to give a simple but complete model of a floating wind turbine, with flexible blades and a flexible tower, but neglecting the control system behaviour, wake dynamics and nonlinear hydrodynamic loads. For the OC3-Hywind turbine, the accuracy of the results is assessed by comparison to nonlinear time-domain simulations using the commercial code Bladed. Peak-peak errors of less than 5 % are achievable for many harmonic wind and wave inputs, but certain conditions lead to larger errors. The effect of including linearised control system behaviour is demonstrated for a subset of conditions. Overall, the results are promising but more work is needed for practical application.

Thesis: M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1978 / Includes bibliographical references. / by Song Y. Chung. / M.S. / M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 B32 / Master of Science

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / NUMERICAL design optimization provides a powerful tool that assists designers in improving their products. Design optimization automatically modifies important design parameters to obtain the best product that satisfies all the design requirements. This thesis explores the use of Support Vector Regression (SVR) and demonstrates its usefulness in the numerical optimization of a low-speed wind turbine for the power coe cient, Cp. The optimization design problem is the three-dimensional optimization of a wind turbine blade by making use of four two-dimensional radial stations. The candidate airfoils at these stations are selected from the 4-digit NACA range. A metamodel of the lift and drag coe cients of the NACA 4-digit series is created with SVR by using training points evaluated with XFOIL software. These SVR approximations are used in conjunction with the Blade Element Momentum theory to calculate and optimize the Cp value for the entire blade. The high accuracy attained with the SVR metamodels makes it a viable alternative to using XFOIL directly, as it has the advantages of being faster and easier to couple with the optimizer. The technique developed allows the optimization procedure the freedom to select profiles, angles of attack and chord length from the 4-digit NACA series to find an optimal Cp value. As a result of every radial blade station consisting of a NACA 4-digit series, the same lift and drag metamodels are used for each station. This technique also makes it simple to evaluate the entire blade as one set of design variables. The thesis contains a detailed description of the design and optimization problem, the implementation of the SVR algorithm, the creation of the lift and drag metamodels with SVR and an alternative methodology, the BEM theory and a summary of the results.