Reducing the loads experienced by wind turbine rotor blades can lower the cost of energy of wind turbines. “Smart rotor control” concepts have emerged as a solution to reduce fatigue loads on wind turbines. In this approach, aerodynamic load control devices are distributed along the span of the blade, and through a combination of sensing, control, and actuation, these devices dynamically control the blade loads. While smart rotor control approaches are primarily focused on fatigue load reductions, extreme loads on the blades may also be critical in determining the lifetime of components, and the ability to reduce these loads as well would be a welcome property of any smart rotor control approach. This research investigates the extreme load reduction potential of smart rotor control devices, namely, trailing edge flaps, in the operation of a 5 MW wind turbine. The controller utilized in these simulations is designed explicitly for fatigue load reductions; nevertheless its effectiveness during extreme loads is assessed. Simple step functions in the wind are used to approximate gusts and investigate the performance of two load reduction methods: individual flap control and individual pitch control. Both local and global gusts are simulated. The results yield important insight into the control approach that is utilized, and also into the differences between using individual pitch control and trailing edge flaps for extreme load reductions. Finally, the limitation of the assumption of quasisteady aerodynamic behavior is assessed.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: lackner@ecs.umass.edu
e-mail: g.a.m.vankuik@tudelft.nl
Article navigation
February 2010
Research Papers
The Performance of Wind Turbine Smart Rotor Control Approaches During Extreme Loads
Matthew A. Lackner,
Matthew A. Lackner
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
e-mail: lackner@ecs.umass.edu
University of Massachusetts Amherst
, 160 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA 01003
Search for other works by this author on:
Gijs A. M. van Kuik
Gijs A. M. van Kuik
Professor
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: g.a.m.vankuik@tudelft.nl
Delft University Wind Energy Research Institute
, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
Matthew A. Lackner
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Massachusetts Amherst
, 160 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA 01003e-mail: lackner@ecs.umass.edu
Gijs A. M. van Kuik
Professor
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering,
Delft University Wind Energy Research Institute
, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlandse-mail: g.a.m.vankuik@tudelft.nl
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2010, 132(1): 011008 (8 pages)
Published Online: December 21, 2009
Article history
Received:
November 3, 2008
Revised:
July 27, 2009
Published:
December 21, 2009
Citation
Lackner, M. A., and van Kuik, G. A. M. (December 21, 2009). "The Performance of Wind Turbine Smart Rotor Control Approaches During Extreme Loads." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2010; 132(1): 011008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000352
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Mass Flow Control Strategy for Maximum Energy Extraction in Thermal Energy Storage Tanks
J. Sol. Energy Eng (December 2025)
Related Articles
Disturbance Tracking Control and Blade Load Mitigation for Variable-Speed Wind Turbines
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2003)
Design of Controls to Attenuate Loads in the Controls Advanced Research Turbine
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2004)
A Parallelized Coupled Navier-Stokes/Vortex-Panel Solver
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2005)
3D Woven Carbon/Glass Hybrid Spar Cap for Wind Turbine Rotor Blade
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2006)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Wind Turbine Airfoils and Rotor Wakes
Wind Turbine Technology: Fundamental Concepts in Wind Turbine Engineering, Second Edition
Three-Dimensional Solid Modeling of Large Wind Turbine Blade Based on Wilson Theory
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Technology (ICMET-London 2011)
Improving Dynamic Performance of Wind Farms in a Distribution System Using DSTATCOM
International Conference on Software Technology and Engineering, 3rd (ICSTE 2011)