Research

12 pages, 5116 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

A Study of a Gain-Scheduled Individual Pitch Controller for an NREL 5 MW Wind Turbine

by Chae-Wook Lim

Energies 2024, 17(1), 246; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17010246 - 03 Jan 2024

Viewed by 532

In order to reduce the asymmetric load acting on the blades of MW-class wind turbines, it is necessary to apply an individual pitch controller that independently adjusts the pitch angles of the three blades. This paper takes a new look at the relationship [...] Read more.

In order to reduce the asymmetric load acting on the blades of MW-class wind turbines, it is necessary to apply an individual pitch controller that independently adjusts the pitch angles of the three blades. This paper takes a new look at the relationship between the individual pitch controller applied to MW-class wind turbines and the vibration mode of the blades. The purpose of this study is to propose a method in which the individual pitch controller further reduces the 1P component of the bending moment in the out-of-plane direction acting on the blade, without exciting the in-plane vibration mode of the blade within the entire wind speed range, from the rated wind speed to the cut-out wind speed. To this end, a problem related to the excitation of the blade’s vibration mode that may occur when applying the individual pitch controller to an NREL 5 MW wind turbine is examined, and a method that uses gain scheduling to overcome this problem is presented. It is confirmed that it is possible to solve the problem of exciting the first-order vibration mode in the in-plane direction of the blade that can occur in the high wind speed range by applying the proposed gain scheduling method to the individual pitch controller aimed at reducing the 1P component of the out-of-plane bending moment of the blade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 16287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Offshore Wind Energy in Malaysia: An Investigation into Wind and Bathymetry Conditions and Site Selection

by Mingxin Li, James Carroll, Ahmad Sukri Ahmad, Nor Shahida Hasan, M. Zaid B. Zolkiffly, Gboyega Bishop Falope and Khalik Mohamad Sabil

Energies 2024, 17(1), 65; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17010065 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1260

Abstract

The government has set an ambitious target of renewable energy development in Malaysia. As a promising renewable energy source, wind energy plays an important role in the Malaysia renewable energy roadmap. Compared to onshore wind energy, offshore wind resources with better quality can [...] Read more.

The government has set an ambitious target of renewable energy development in Malaysia. As a promising renewable energy source, wind energy plays an important role in the Malaysia renewable energy roadmap. Compared to onshore wind energy, offshore wind resources with better quality can be provided in the areas away from the coast, which has greater potential to contribute to electricity generation. Wind and bathymetry conditions are two important factors that determine the feasibility and economics of offshore wind turbines. In this paper, an investigation is conducted on wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia. The data source mainly originates from the Global Wind Atlas. The conditions of the coastal areas in different states and federal territories of both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia are analysed, with a specific focus on wind speed, wind energy density, and bathymetry conditions in high-wind-speed regions. The data and survey are verified and compared with the past published literature. This paper aims to investigate the wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia, assess the potential of offshore wind energy, discuss the feasibility of offshore wind turbines, and provide references for offshore wind development in Malaysia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4452 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Review: Existing Methods for Solving Spatial Planning Problems for Wind Turbines in Poland

by Artur Amsharuk and Grażyna Łaska

Energies 2022, 15(23), 8957; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15238957 - 27 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1536

Abstract

The article presents the most commonly used multi-criteria analysis methods for choosing the optimal location for future wind parks. The article makes a comparison of the criteria and restrictions of localisation and an overview of the main legal constraints and prospects in the [...] Read more.

The article presents the most commonly used multi-criteria analysis methods for choosing the optimal location for future wind parks. The article makes a comparison of the criteria and restrictions of localisation and an overview of the main legal constraints and prospects in the development of renewable energy sources (RES). Financial assistance from the EU to accelerate the achievement of the required indicators was described. Moreover, restrictions considering environmental, social and noise factors that affect the life of the local population and the perception of the landscape visually are important. Additionally, it includes an option for developing wind energy in the absence of the necessary space for construction. In a new approach for the location of the wind farm, to the investors and another researcher related to the topic of wind turbine foundations, we indicate the most important aspects of wind energy control that should be taken into account in wind farm location proceedings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 12546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Assessment of a LIDAR-Based Model Predictive Wind Turbine Control

by Jie Bao and Hong Yue

Energies 2022, 15(17), 6429; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15176429 - 02 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1265

Abstract

The development of the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology has enabled wider options for wind turbine control, in particular regarding disturbance rejection. The LIDAR measurements provide a spatial, preview wind information, based on which the controller has a better chance to cope [...] Read more.

The development of the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology has enabled wider options for wind turbine control, in particular regarding disturbance rejection. The LIDAR measurements provide a spatial, preview wind information, based on which the controller has a better chance to cope with the wind disturbance before it affects the turbine operation. In this paper, a model predictive controller for above-rated wind turbine control was developed with the use of pseudo-LIDAR wind measurements data. A predictive control algorithm was developed based on a linearised wind turbine model, in which the disturbance from the incoming wind was computed by the LIDAR simulator. The optimal control action was applied to the nonlinear turbine model. The developed controller was compared with the baseline control and a previously developed LIDAR-assisted control combining a feedback-and-feedforward design. Our simulation studies on a 5 MW nonlinear wind turbine model, under different wind conditions, demonstrated that the developed LIDAR-based predictive control achieved improved performance in the presence of small variations in the out-of-plane rotor torque and fore-aft tower acceleration, as well as a smoother generator speed regulation and satisfied pitch activity control constraints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 7311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Power and Flow Analysis of Axial Induction Control in an Array of Model-Scale Wind Turbines

by Daniel Houck and Edwin A. Cowen

Energies 2022, 15(15), 5347; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15155347 - 23 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1023

Abstract

As research on wind energy has progressed, it has broadened from a focus on the wind turbine to include the entire wind farm. In particular, methods to mitigate the negative effects of upstream wakes on downstream turbines have received significant attention. One such [...] Read more.

As research on wind energy has progressed, it has broadened from a focus on the wind turbine to include the entire wind farm. In particular, methods to mitigate the negative effects of upstream wakes on downstream turbines have received significant attention. One such mitigation method is axial induction control (AIC) in which upstream turbines are derated to reduce the momentum deficits in their wakes, leaving higher speed flow for downstream turbines. If performed correctly, it is theorized that the power production gains in downstream turbines can compensate for the power sacrificed by derating upstream turbines. Previous work has indicated that the “excess” energy left in the wake of the derated turbine is along the edges of the wake such that a turbine placed directly downstream will see little to no increase in power. To address this hypothesis, we performed a control and treatment experiment with model-scale turbines in a wide flume. Five turbines were arranged in three successive streamwise rows, with the first two rows consisting of two aligned turbines, while three turbines with small transverse spacing were placed in the third row, the central of which was also streamwise-aligned with the upstream two turbines. This arrangement was used to evaluate the difference in power production primarily among the turbines in the third row when the upstream turbines were derated. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure the wake in the streamwise-vertical planes along the centerline of the array and along the rotor tips of the centerline turbines between all rows, and high accuracy power measurements were recorded from each turbine. The results show that the total power of the array was decreased while implementing AIC but that individual turbine performance differed from predictions. PIV results show that mean kinetic energy (MKE) is redistributed to the edges of the wakes as has been previously hypothesized. We provide an analysis of the results that connects both the power and flow measurements and that highlights several of the aspects of wind turbine wake flows that make them so complex and challenging to study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 21151 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reference Model Adaptive Control Scheme on PMVG-Based WECS for MPPT under a Real Wind Speed

by Anto Anbarasu Yesudhas, Young Hoon Joo and Seong Ryong Lee

Energies 2022, 15(9), 3091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15093091 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1889

Abstract

Over the last few years, improving power extraction from the wind energy conversion system (WECS) under varying wind speeds has become a complex task. The current study presents the optimum maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control approach integrated with neural network (NN)-based rotor [...] Read more.

Over the last few years, improving power extraction from the wind energy conversion system (WECS) under varying wind speeds has become a complex task. The current study presents the optimum maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control approach integrated with neural network (NN)-based rotor speed control and pitch angle control to extract the maximum power from the WECS. So, this study presents a reference model adaptive control (RMAC) for a direct-drive (DD) permanent magnet vernier generator (PMVG)-based WECS under real wind speed conditions. Initially, the RMAC-based rotor speed tracking control is presented with adaptive terms, which tracks a reference model that guarantees the expected exponential decay of rotor speed error trajectory. Then, to reduce the wind speed measurement errors, a recurrent neural network (RNN)-based training model is presented. Moreover, the asymptotic stability of the proposed control method is mathematically proven by Lyapunov theory. In addition, the pitch angle control is presented to efficiently operate the rotor speed within the allowable operating range. Eventually, the proposed control system demonstrates its effectiveness through simulation and experimentation using a prototype of 5 kW DD PMVG-based WECS. After that, the comparative results affirm the superiority of the proposed control method over existing control methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 24146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Effective DC-Link Voltage Control Strategy for Grid-Connected PMVG-Based Wind Energy Conversion System

by Thirumoorthy Ramasamy, Ameerkhan Abdul Basheer, Myung-Hwan Tak, Young-Hoon Joo and Seong-Ryong Lee

Energies 2022, 15(8), 2931; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15082931 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1755

Abstract

This study presents an effective control strategy for regulating the DC-link voltage in a variable-speed direct-driven (DD) wind energy conversion system (WECS) using a permanent magnet vernier generator (PMVG). To do this, at first, the overall system is configured using back-to-back (BTB) voltage [...] Read more.

This study presents an effective control strategy for regulating the DC-link voltage in a variable-speed direct-driven (DD) wind energy conversion system (WECS) using a permanent magnet vernier generator (PMVG). To do this, at first, the overall system is configured using back-to-back (BTB) voltage source converters, and the whole system’s dynamical equations are modeled and presented. Following that, a non-linear sliding mode control strategy is introduced as the grid-side converter’s DC-link voltage controller to improve the dynamic performance of the PMVG system and achieve the stable power transfer with the grid. To accomplish this, a proportional and integral (PI)-based sliding surface is designed, and a hybrid reaching law is proposed to suppress chattering and deliver a faster response of DC-link voltage with negligible steady-state tracking error. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control strategy are validated through comparisons with existing methods using simulation and experimental results from a 5-kW PMVG system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 20069 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fast Terminal Synergetic Control of PMVG-Based Wind Energy Conversion System for Enhancing the Power Extraction Efficiency

by Ganesh Mayilsamy, Balasubramani Natesan, Young Hoon Joo and Seong Ryong Lee

Energies 2022, 15(8), 2774; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15082774 - 10 Apr 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 1702

Abstract

This study presents a fast terminal synergetic control (FTSC) scheme to investigate the nonlinear control problem of permanent magnet vernier generator (PMVG)-based variable-speed wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). In wind turbines, better speed tracking and fast dynamic behavior is required to achieve the [...] Read more.

This study presents a fast terminal synergetic control (FTSC) scheme to investigate the nonlinear control problem of permanent magnet vernier generator (PMVG)-based variable-speed wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). In wind turbines, better speed tracking and fast dynamic behavior is required to achieve the maximum power extraction. To do this, the FTSC method is firstly proposed to improve the dynamic performance of tracking the speedby, addressing the turbulent wind and uncertainties in the PMVG system, which improves the wind energy extraction efficiency and alleviates mechanical stress over the turbine. Next, the closed-loop FTSC with a macro variable and novel reaching law is presented to enhance the convergence of the speed error signal when it is far from equilibrium in finite time. At this time, the controller’s output is a zero chattering generator torque reference that can operate the system in both below- and above-rated wind conditions, in addition to pitch control. Then, the proposed control method is verified for its effectiveness in energy capture through numerical simulation and experimental verification of a 5 kW direct drive PMVG-based WECS. Finally, comparative results confirm the better performance of the proposed system under transients than other controllers considered in this analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Wind Energy Control)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advances in Wind Energy Control

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI