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Projects

• Adaptive wind turbine pitch control for maximizing energy capture
• Feasibility study for a variable-speed turbine with a continuously-variable transmission
• Advanced wind turbine control for load reduction
• Wind farm control for maximizing energy capture
• Wind turbine fault detection and protection

Adaptive wind turbine pitch control for maximizing energy capture

The objective of the adaptive pitch and adaptive torque control (developed in previous
research) is to seek the maximum aerodynamic efficiency, represented by the intersection
of the two lines on the surface shown in this figure. The adaptive pitch controller is
uses a hill-climbing method to achieve its objective. Funding provided by DOE/NREL.

Feasibility study for a variable-speed turbine with a continuously
-variable transmission

This figure shows various strategies for enabling variable-speed operation for a wind
turbine. A turbine's best speed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency of a turbine is a
function of wind speed, so variable-speed operation enhances aerodynamic efficiency.
Funding provided by DOE.

Advanced wind turbine control for load reduction

As wind turbines increase in size, they become more flexible, which increases the need
for control strategies to damp vibrations and reduce loading. We developed a drive train/tower
damping (DTT) controller that reduced loads in the tower and drive train over a range of
IEC Deterministic Load Cases. Several intermediate controllers are also compared in this plot.
Funding provided by DOE/NREL.

Wind farm control for maximizing energy capture

When turbines are grouped together in farms, areodynamic interaction between turbines
results in energy loss compared to the same number of turbines in the same wind
conditions without other turbines nearby. The energy loss cannot be completely
eliminated with control, but it can be mitigated. This figure shows that the best
total energy capture for a two-turbine array does not occur at the peak power point
for the upwind turbine. Funding provided by NSF.

Wind turbine fault detection and protection

Fault detection and protection schemes are necessary to ensure safe turbine operation,
and this project will help to determine what strategies and sensors are necessary.
(No graphic currently available.)

Note: this page is still under construction. Check back later for more information.