Transient Characteristics and Quantitative Analysis of Electromotive Force for DFIG-based Wind Turbines during Grid Faults

For doubly-fed induction generator(DFIG)-based wind turbines(WTs),various advanced control schemes have been proposed to achieve the low voltage ride through(LVRT)capability,whose parameters design is significantly reliant on the rotor electromotive force(EMF)of DFIG-based WTs.However,the influence of the rotor current on EMF is usually ignored in existing studies,which cannot fully reflect the transient characteristics of EMF.To tackle with this issue,this study presents a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of EMF during grid faults considering various control modes.First,the DFIG model under grid faults is established.Subsequently,the transient characteristics of EMF are analyzed under different control modes(that is,rotor open-circuit and connected to converter).Furthermore,the EMF transient eigenvolumes(that is,accessorial resistance item,transient decay time constant,and frequency offset)are quantitatively analyzed with the typical parameters of MW-level DFIG-based WT.The analysis results contribute to the design of the LVRT control scheme.Finally,the analysis is validated by the hardware-in-the-loop experiments.

Internal electrical fault detection techniques in DFIG-based wind turbines: a review

The keys factor in making wind power one of the main power sources to meet the world’s growing energy demands is the reliability improvement of wind turbines(WTs).However,the eventuality of fault occurrence on WT com-ponents cannot be avoided,especially for doubly-fed induction generator(DFIG)based WTs,which are operating in severe environments.The maintenance need increases due to unexpected faults,which in turn leads to higher operating cost and poor reliability.Extensive investigation into DFIG internal fault detection techniques has been carried out in the last decade.This paper presents a detailed review of these techniques.It discusses the methods that can be used to detect internal electrical faults in a DFIG stator,rotor,or both.A novel sorting technique is presented which takes into consideration different parameters such as fault location,detection technique,and DFIG modelling.The main mathematical representation used to detect these faults is presented to allow an easier and faster under-standing of each method.In addition,a comparison is carried out in every section to illustrate the main differences,advantages,and disadvantages of every method and/or model.Some real monitoring systems available in the market are presented.Finally,recommendations for the challenges,future work,and main gaps in the field of internal faults in a DFIG are presented.This review is organized in a tutorial manner,to be an effective guide for future research for enhancing the reliability of DFIG-based WTs.

A novel control solution for improved trajectory tracking and LVRT performance in DFIG-based wind turbines

This paper presents a new control strategy for the rotor side converter of Doubly-Fed Induction Generator based Wind Turbine systems,under severe voltage dips.The main goal is to fulfill the Low Voltage Ride Through performance,required by modern grid codes.In this respect,the key point is to limit oscillations(particularly on rotor currents)triggered by line faults,so that the system keeps operating with graceful behavior.To this aim,a suitable feedforward-feedback control solution is proposed for the DFIG rotor side.The feedforward part exploits oscillation-free reference trajectories,analytically derived for the system internal dynamics.State feedback,designed accounting for control voltage limits,endows the system with robustness and further tame oscillations during faults.Moreover,improved torque and stator reactive power tracking during faults is achieved,proposing an exact mapping between such quantities and rotor-side currents,which are conventionally used as controlled outputs.Numerical simulations are provided to validate the capability of the proposed approach to effectively cope with harsh faults.

Parametric Analysis and Design Considerations forMicroWind Turbines:A Comprehensive Review

Wind energy provides a sustainable solution to the ever-increasing demand for energy.Micro-wind turbines offer a promising solution for low-wind speed,decentralized power generation in urban and remote areas.Earlier researchers have explored the design,development,and performance analysis of a micro-wind turbine system tailored for small-scale renewable energy generation.Researchers have investigated various aspects such as aerodynamic considerations,structural integrity,efficiency optimization to ensure reliable and cost-effective operation,blade design,generator selection,and control strategies to enhance the overall performance of the system.The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive design and performance review of horizontal and vertical micro-wind turbines.The study begins with an overview of the current landscape of wind energy across the globe and India in particular,highlighting key challenges and opportunities.Numerical and experimental studies were used to validate the designs.Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines(HAWTs)with ducts or shrouds are suitable for microscale and low-speed applications.Researchers investigated the position and location of the turbines to enhance their performance in urban settings.Airflow and airfoil noise produce aerodynamic noise,which is the most significant disadvantage of wind turbines.The findings provide valuable insights for stakeholders interested in advancing micro-wind turbine technology.The highlighted research opportunities may be pursued further to improve the efficiency,reliability,and overall performance of micro-wind turbines.

Influence of Surface Ice Roughness on the Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbines

The focus of this research was on the equivalent particle roughness height correction required to account for the presence of ice when determining the performances of wind turbines.In particular,two icing processes(frost ice and clear ice)were examined by combining the FENSAP-ICE and FLUENT analysis tools.The ice type on the blade surfaces was predicted by using a multi-time step method.Accordingly,the influence of variations in icing shape and ice surface roughness on the aerodynamic performance of blades during frost ice formation or clear ice formation was investigated.The results indicate that differences in blade surface roughness and heat flux lead to disparities in both ice formation rate and shape between frost ice and clear ice.Clear ice has a greater impact on aerodynamics compared to frost ice,while frost ice is significantly influenced by the roughness of its icy surface.

Study on the Relationship between Structural Aspects and Aerodynamic Characteristics of Archimedes Spiral Wind Turbines

A combined experimental and numerical research study is conducted to investigate the complex relationship between the structure and the aerodynamic performances of an Archimedes spiral wind turbine(ASWT).Two ASWTs are considered,a prototypical version and an improved version.It is shown that the latter achieves the best aerodynamic performance when the spread angles at the three sets of blades areα_(1)=30°,α_(2)=55°,α3=60°,respectively and the blade thickness is 4 mm.For a velocity V=10 m/s,a tip speed ratio(TSR)=1.58 and 2,the maximum CP values are 0.223 and 0.263 for the prototypical ASWT and improved ASWT,respectively,and the maximum C_(P) enhancement is 17.93%.For V=10 m/s and TSR=2,the CP values of the prototypical ASWT and improved ASWT are 0.225 and 0.263,respectively,with an aerodynamic performance enhancement of 16.88%.Through mutual verification of the test outcomes and numerical results,it is concluded that the proposed approach can effectively lead to aerodynamic performance improvement.

Impact of Blade-Flapping Vibration on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Wind Turbines under Yaw Conditions

Although the aerodynamic loading of wind turbine blades under various conditions has been widely studied,the radial distribution of load along the blade under various yaw conditions and with blade flapping phenomena is poorly understood.This study aims to investigate the effects of second-order flapwise vibration on the mean and fluctuation characteristics of the torque and axial thrust of wind turbines under yaw conditions using computational fluid dynamics(CFD).In the CFD model,the blades are segmented radially to comprehensively analyze the distribution patterns of torque,axial load,and tangential load.The following results are obtained.(i)After applying flapwise vibration,the torque and axial thrust of wind turbines decrease in relation to those of the rigid model,with significantly increased fluctuations.(ii)Flapwise vibration causes the blades to reciprocate along the axial direction,altering the local angle of attack and velocity of the blades relative to the incoming wind flow.This results in the contraction of the torque region from a circular shape to a complex“gear”shape,which is accompanied by evident oscillations.(iii)Compared to the tangential load,the axial load on the blades is more sensitive to flapwise vibration although both exhibit significantly enhanced fluctuations.This study not only reveals the impact of flapwise vibration on wind turbine blade performance,including the reduction of torque and axial thrust and increased operational fluctuations,but also clarifies the radial distribution patterns of blade aerodynamic characteristics,which is of great significance for optimizing wind turbine blade design and reducing fatigue risks.

Theoretical and Empirical Limits: Reexamining Betz’s Upper Limit towards a Practical Power Coefficients in Wind Turbines*

The aspiration of all wind turbine designers is to attain Betz’s upper limit, which represents the highest efficiency in wind energy extraction. Majority of working turbines operate slightly below this limit with an exception of a few operating in wind tunnels. This study proposes for a comprehensive reevaluation of Betz’s derivation, aiming to establish the gap between a theoretical power limit and a practical limit for realization. There are two common expressions for power coefficient giving the same optimal value of 59%, but they generate different power-coefficient curves when plotted against velocity ratios. This paper presents a new method being referred as “Direct Multiplication Fractional Change” (DMFC) for deriving power-coefficient curves in wind energy, and compares its generated curve with established models. Discrepancies in power-coefficient expressions are identified and harmonized. Three approaches, namely EVAM, LVM, and DMFCM, were used for the numerical derivation of cp in the study, with their evaluation summarized in a table. The study collaborates its findings with a formulated velocity-distance curve, commonly presented as a hypothetical velocity profile in some publications. The results from DMFCM indicate two distinct maxima for the power coefficient. On the front side of the disc, a maximum of 0.5 is achievable in practice, although it is not the highest theoretically. On the rear side, a theoretical maximum of 0.59 is observed, but this value is not attainable in practice. These maxima are separated by their positions along the line of flow relative to the disc. However, this approximation is limited to a streamlined flow model of the rotor disc.

Towing characteristics of large-scale composite bucket foundation for offshore wind turbines

In order to study the towing dynamic properties of the large-scale composite bucket foundation the hydrodynamic software MOSES is used to simulate the dynamic motion of the foundation towed to the construction site.The MOSES model with the prototype size is established as the water draft of 5 and 6 m under the environmental conditions on site.The related factors such as towing force displacement towing accelerations in six degrees of freedom of the bucket foundation and air pressures inside the bucket are analyzed in detail.In addition the towing point and wave conditions are set as the critical factors to simulate the limit conditions of the stable dynamic characteristics.The results show that the large-scale composite bucket foundation with reasonable subdivisions inside the bucket has the satisfying floating stability.During the towing process the air pressures inside the bucket obviously change little and it is found that the towing point at the waterline is the most optimal choice.The characteristics of the foundation with the self-floating towing technique are competitive for saving lots of cost with few of the expensive types of equipment required during the towing transportation.

A computational platform for considering the effects of aerodynamic and seismic load combination for utility scale horizontal axis wind turbines

The wide deployment of wind turbines in locations with high seismic hazard has led engineers to take into account a more comprehensive seismic design of such structures. Turbine specific guidelines usually use simplified methods and consider many assumptions to combine seismic demand with the other operational loads effecting the design of these structures. As the turbines increase in size and capacity, the interaction between seismic loads and aerodynamic loads becomes even more important. In response to the need for a computational tool that can perform coupled simulations of wind and seismic loads, a seismic module is developed for the FAST code and described in this research. This platform allows engineers working in this industry to directly consider interaction between seismic and other environmental loads for turbines. This paper details the practical application and theory of this platform and provides examples for the use of different capabilities. The platform is then used to show the suitable earthquake and operational load combination with the implicit consideration of aerodynamic damping by estimating appropriate load factors.

Contribution of tuned liquid column gas dampers to the performance of offshore wind turbines under wind, wave, and seismic excitations

The main intention of the present study is to reduce wind, wave, and seismic induced vibrations of jacket- type offshore wind turbines （JOWTs） through a newly developed vibration absorber, called tuned liquid column gas damper （TLCGD）. Using a Simulink-based model, an analytical model is developed to simulate global behavior of JOWTs under different dynamic excitations. The study is followed by a parametric study to explore efficiency of the TLCGD in terms of nacelle acceleration reduction under wind, wave, and earthquake loads. Study results indicate that optimum frequency of the TLCGD is rather insensitive to excitation type. In addition, while the gain in vibration control from TLCGDs with higher mass ratios is generally more pronounced, heavy TLCGDs are more sensitive to their tuned frequency such that ill-regulated TLCGD with high mass ratio can lead to destructive results. It is revealed that a well regulated TLCGD has noticeable contribution to the dynamic response of the JOWT under any excitation.

Intelligent control for large-scale variable speed variable pitch wind turbines

Large-scale wind turbine generator systems have strong nonlinear multivariable characteristics with many uncertain factors and disturbances. Automatic control is crucial for the efficiency and reliability of wind turbines. On the basis of simplified and proper model of variable speed variable pitch wind turbines, the effective wind speed is estimated using extended Kaiman filter. Intelligent control schemes proposed in the paper include two loops which operate in synchronism with each other. At below-rated wind speed, the inner loop adopts adaptive fuzzy control based on variable universe for generator torque regulation to realize maximum wind energy capture. At above-rated wind speed, a controller based on least square support vector machine is proposed to adjust pitch angle and keep rated output power. The simulation shows the effectiveness of the intelligent control.

Failure Envelopes of Wide-Shallow Composite Bucket Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines in Silty Sand

The wide-shallow composite bucket foundation(WSCBF) is a new type of offshore wind power foundation that can be built on land and rapidly installed offshore, there by effectively reducing the construction time and costs of offshore wind power foundation. In this study, the horizontal bearing capacity is calculated by finite element simulation and compared with test results to verify the validity of results. In this process, the vertical load and bending load are respectively calculated by the finite element simulation. Under the vertical load effect, the bucket foundation and the soil inside are regarded as a whole, and the corresponding buckling failure mode is obtained. The ultimate vertical bearing capacity is calculated using empirical and theoretical formulas; the theoretical formula is also revised by finite element results. Under bending load, the rotational center of the composite bucket foundation(in a region close to the bucket bottom) gradually moves from the left of the central axis(reverse to loading direction) to the nearby compartment boards along the loading direction. The H–M envelope line shows a linear relationship, and it is determined that the vertical and bending ultimate bearing capacities can be improved by an appropriate vertical load.

Bearing Capacity and Technical Advantages of Composite Bucket Foundation of Offshore Wind Turbines

Based on mechanical characteristics such as large vertical load, large horizontal load, large bending moment and complex geological conditions, a large scale composite bucket foundation （CBF） is put forward. Both the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are employed to study the bearing capacity of CBF and the relationship between loads and ground deformation. Furthermore, monopile, high-rise pile cap, tripod and CBF designs are compared to analyze the bearing capacity and ground deformation, with a 3-MW wind generator as an example. The resuits indicate that CBF can effectively bear horizontal load and large bending moment resulting from upper structures and environmental load.

Experimental Investigation of Local Scour Around A New Pile-Group Foundation for Offshore Wind Turbines in Bi-Directional Current

The local scour around a new pile-group foundation of offshore wind turbine subjected to a bi-directional current was physically modeled with a bi-directional flow flume. In a series of experiments, the flow velocity and topography of the seabed were measured based on a system composed of plane positioning equipment and an ADV.Experimental results indicate that the development of the scour hole was fast at the beginning, but then the scour rate decreased until reaching equilibrium. Erosion would occur around each pile of the foundation. In most cases, the scour pits were connected in pairs and the outside widths of the scour holes were larger than the inner widths. The maximum scour depth occurred at the side pile of the foundation for each test. In addition, a preliminary investigation shows that the larger the flow velocity, the larger the scour hole dimensions but the shorter equilibrium time. The field maximum scour depth around the foundation was obtained based on the physical experiments with the geometric length scales of 1:27.0, 1:42.5 and 1:68.0, and it agrees with the scour depth estimated by the HEC-18 equation.

Analysis of Unsteady Flow over Offshore Wind Turbines in Combination with Different types of Foundations

Environmental effects have an important influence on Offshore Wind Turbine (OWT) power generation efficiency and the structural stability of such turbines. In this study, we use an in-house Boundary Element (BEM)-panMARE code-to simulate the unsteady flow behavior of a full OWT with various combinations of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic loads in the time domain. This code is implemented to simulate potential flows for different applications and is based on a three-dimensional first-order panel method. Three different OWT configurations consisting of a generic 5 MW NREL rotor with three different types of foundations (Monopile, Tripod, and Jacket) are investigated. These three configurations are analyzed using the RANSE solver which is carried out using ANSYS CFX for validating the corresponding results. The simulations are performed under the same environmental atmospheric wind shear and rotor angular velocity, and the wave properties are wave height of 4 m and wave period of 7.16 s. In the present work, wave environmental effects were investigated firstly for the two solvers, and good agreement is achieved. Moreover, pressure distribution in each OWT case is presented, including detailed information about local flow fields. The time history of the forces at inflow direction and its moments around the mudline at each OWT part are presented in a dimensionless form with respect to the mean value of the last three loads and the moment amplitudes obtained from the BEM code, where the contribution of rotor force is lower in the tripod case and higher in the jacket case and the calculated hydrodynamic load that effect on jacket foundation type is lower than other two cases.

Experimental Study on Vibration Control of Offshore Wind Turbines Using a Ball Vibration Absorber

To minimize the excessive vibration and prolong the fatigue life of the offshore wind turbine systems, it is of value to control the vibration that is induced within the structure by implementing certain kinds of dampers. In this paper, a ball vibration absorber (BVA) is experimentally investigated through a series of shake table tests on a 1/13 scaled wind turbine model. The reductions in top displacement, top acceleration, bottom stress and platform stress of the wind turbine tower system subjected to earthquakes and equivalent wind-wave loads, respectively, with a ball absorber are examined. Cases of the tower with rotating blades are also investigated to validate the efficacy of this damper in mitigating the vibration of an operating wind turbine. The experimental results indicate that the dynamic performance of the tested wind turbine model with a ball absorber is significantly improved compared with that of the uncontrolled structure in terms of the peak response reduction.

Numerical Study of a Novel Procedure for Installing the Tower and Rotor Nacelle Assembly of Offshore Wind Turbines Based on the Inverted Pendulum Principle

Current installation costs of offshore wind turbines(OWTs) are high and profit margins in the offshore wind energy sector are low, it is thus necessary to develop installation methods that are more efficient and practical. This paper presents a numerical study(based on a global response analysis of marine operations) of a novel procedure for installing the tower and Rotor Nacelle Assemblies(RNAs) on bottom-fixed foundations of OWTs. The installation procedure is based on the inverted pendulum principle. A cargo barge is used to transport the OWT assembly in a horizontal position to the site, and a medium-size Heavy Lift Vessel(HLV) is then employed to lift and up-end the OWT assembly using a special upending frame. The main advantage of this novel procedure is that the need for a huge HLV(in terms of lifting height and capacity) is eliminated. This novel method requires that the cargo barge is in the leeward side of the HLV(which can be positioned with the best heading) during the entire installation. This is to benefit from shielding effects of the HLV on the motions of the cargo barge, so the foundations need to be installed with a specific heading based on wave direction statistics of the site and a typical installation season. Following a systematic approach based on numerical simulations of actual operations, potential critical installation activities, corresponding critical events, and limiting(response) parameters are identified. In addition, operational limits for some of the limiting parameters are established in terms of allowable limits of sea states. Following a preliminary assessment of these operational limits, the duration of the entire operation, the equipment used, and weather-and water depth-sensitivity, this novel procedure is demonstrated to be viable.

Review of Experimental-Numerical Methodologies and Challenges for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Due to the dissimilar scaling issues,the conventional experimental method of FOWTs can hardly be used directly to validate the full-scale global dynamic responses accurately.Therefore,it is of absolute necessity to find a more accurate,economic and efficient approach,which can be utilized to predict the full-scale global dynamic responses of FOWTs.In this paper,a literature review of experimental-numerical methodologies and challenges for FOWTs is made.Several key challenges in the conventional basin experiment issues are discussed,including scaling issues;coupling effects between aero-hydro and structural dynamic responses;blade pitch control strategies;experimental facilities and calibration methods.Several basin experiments,industrial projects and numerical codes are summarized to demonstrate the progress of hybrid experimental methods.Besides,time delay in hardware-in-the-loop challenges is concluded to emphasize their significant role in real-time hybrid approaches.It is of great use to comprehend these methodologies and challenges,which can help some future researchers to make a footstone for proposing a more efficient and functional hybrid basin experimental and numerical method.

Assessment of natural frequency of installed offshore wind turbines using nonlinear finite element model considering soil-monopile interaction

A nonlinear finite element model is developed to examine the lateral behaviors of monopiles, which support offshore wind turbines(OWTs) chosen from five different offshore wind farms in Europe. The simulation is using this model to accurately estimate the natural frequency of these slender structures, as a function of the interaction of the foundations with the subsoil. After a brief introduction to the wind power energy as a reliable alternative in comparison to fossil fuel, the paper focuses on concept of natural frequency as a primary indicator in designing the foundations of OWTs. Then the range of natural frequencies is provided for a safe design purpose. Next, an analytical expression of an OWT natural frequency is presented as a function of soil-monopile interaction through monopile head springs characterized by lateral stiffness KL, rotational stiffness KRand cross-coupling stiffness KLRof which the differences are discussed. The nonlinear pseudo three-dimensional finite element vertical slices model has been used to analyze the lateral behaviors of monopiles supporting the OWTs of different wind farm sites considered. Through the monopiles head movements(displacements and rotations), the values of KL, KRand KLRwere obtained and substituted in the analytical expression of natural frequency for comparison. The comparison results between computed and measured natural frequencies showed an excellent agreement for most cases. This confirms the convenience of the finite element model used for the accurate estimation of the monopile head stiffness.