Studying the Potential of a Novel Multiple-Generator Drivetrain in Wind Energy Conversion Systems

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Goudarzi ◽  
W. D. Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Switch Mechanism ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Operational Range

A novel multiple generator drivetrain (MGD), where a single large generator in a wind turbine is replaced by multiple generators with the same or different rated powers, is proposed along with an automatic switch mechanism as an alternative to an existing MGD. To better understand the advantages and disadvantages of having a MGD in onshore/offshore wind turbines, a MGD with a single or double stage gearbox and multiple generators is compared with a conventional drivetrain with a triple-stage gearbox and a large induction generator. A simple mathematical model for a MGD with an automatic switch is developed, a novel prototype of a MGD is designed and fabricated, and experiments are conducted on the prototype. It is concluded that a multiple-generator drivetrain with generators operating individually or in parallel through an automatic switch mechanism has a better potential of improving the efficiency and the reliability, expanding the operational range, and reducing the cost of offshore and onshore wind turbines than the existing MGD configuration.

Offshore and Onshore Wind Energy Conversion: The Potential of a Novel Multiple-Generator Drivetrain

2013 ◽  
Vol 569-570 ◽  
pp. 644-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navid Goudarzi ◽  
Wei Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Simple Mathematical Model ◽  
Onshore Wind ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Operational Range

A multiple generator drivetrain (MGD), where a single large generator in a wind turbine is replaced by multiple generators with the same or different rated powers, is proposed along with an automatic switch as an alternative to an existing MGD configuration. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of a MGD with a conventional drivetrain are provided to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of having a MGD in wind turbines. New approaches for improving the efficiency and the reliability, expanding the operational range, and reducing the cost of a wind turbine are mentioned. A simple mathematical model for a MGD with electromagnetic clutches is developed, a novel prototype of a MGD is designed and fabricated, and experiments are conducted on the prototype. It is concluded that a multiple-generator drivetrain with generators operating individually or in parallel has a better potential of improving the efficiency and the reliability, expanding the operational range, and reducing the cost of offshore and onshore wind turbines than the existing MGD configuration.

scholarly journals Study of DOUBLY-FED Induction Generator For Variable Speed Wind Energy Conversion Systems

2012 ◽  
pp. 273-277
Author(s):  
Manasi Pattnaik
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Doubly Fed Induction Generator ◽  
Variable Speed ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Evolution Of Technology ◽  
Grid Codes ◽  
Doubly Fed

In recent years, wind energy has become one of the most important and promising sources of renewable energy, which demands additional transmission capacity and better means of maintaining system reliability. The evolution of technology related to wind systems industry leaded to the development of a generation of variable speed wind turbines that present many advantages compared to the fixed speed wind turbines. For example, grid codes are being revised to ensure that wind turbines would contribute to the control of voltage and frequency and also to stay connected to the host network following a disturbance. In response to the new grid code requirements, several DFIG models have been suggested recently. This paper deals with the introduction of DFIG and AC/DC/AC converter control

Advanced Concept Offshore Wind Turbine Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 728-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdollah A. Afjeh ◽  
◽  
Brett Andersen ◽  
Jin Woo Lee ◽  
Mahdi Norouzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Offshore Wind Energy ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Floating Foundation ◽  
The Cost

Development of novel offshore wind turbine designs and technologies are necessary to reduce the cost of offshore wind energy since offshore wind turbines need to withstand ice and waves in addition to wind, a markedly different environment from their onshore counterparts. This paper focuses on major design challenges of offshore wind turbines and offers an advanced concept wind turbine that can significantly reduce the cost of offshore wind energy as an alternative to the current popular designs. The design consists of a two-blade, downwind rotor configuration fitted to a fixed bottom or floating foundation. Preliminary results indicate that cost savings of nearly 25% are possible compared with the conventional upwind wind turbine designs.

Collisions of Ships and Offshore Wind Turbines: Calculation and Risk Evaluation

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Biehl ◽  
Eike Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems

In Germany and other European countries, a large number of offshore wind parks will be installed within the next decade. Even though this development is promoted by governmental agencies in order to achieve positive effects such as installing a sustained energy and resource management, risks such as pollution due to collisions of tanker vessels with offshore wind energy conversion systems may cause the acceptance of wind energy to decrease. After a collision oil or other harmful substances may be spilled into the sea. It might even be possible for a ship to break apart and sink in a worst case scenario that includes failure of the bearing of the installed nacelle and subsequent impact onto the ship. Numerical crash tests were carried out in order to determine worst cases and to give hints to improve different offshore wind turbine support structures. In combination with statistical data and determination of probabilities of the occurrence of different scenarios, safety assessment analysis can be carried out by certification agencies and administrative authorities.

scholarly journals Comparative Study between the Electrical Generators Used in Wind Energy Conversion Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
New Production ◽  
Fossil Energy ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion ◽  
Wind Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Induction Generators ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems

To keep away from non-renewable fossil energy, clean and green wind energy is one of the sustainable sources in nature that produce the electrical power with no-fossil energy issues. The fastest growing type of renewable energy is the wind energy due to its free availability and environmental problems. Wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) assume a significant part in the new production of electric power from renewable sources. Due to the technical progress in the wind turbine manufacturing, we have many types of wind turbines in use around the world. Many kinds of generators were used in the WECS. In this paper a comparison between three types of generators exploited in WECSs will be introduced. These types are self-excited induction generators (SEIGs), doubly-fed induction generator (DFIGs) and switched reluctance generators (SRGs). The comparison between the generators includes the speed range of operation, fault sensitivity, power ratings and the suitable types of wind turbines used for the three generators, moreover the control techniques applied.

scholarly journals A Feedback Control Loop Optimisation Methodology for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 3490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joannes Olondriz ◽  
Josu Jugo ◽  
Iker Elorza ◽  
Santiago Alonso-Quesada ◽  
Aron Pujana-Arrese
Keyword(s):  
Feedback Control ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Control Loop ◽  
Control Loops ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Wind Turbine System ◽  
Floating Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
The Cost

Wind turbines usually present several feedback control loops to improve or counteract some specific performance or behaviour of the system. It is common to find these multiple feedback control loops in Floating Offshore Wind Turbines where the system perferformance is highly influenced by the platform dynamics. This is the case of the Aerodynamic Platform Stabiliser and Wave Rejection feedback control loops which are complementaries to the conventional generator speed PI control loop when it is working in an above rated wind speed region. The multiple feedback control loops sometimes can be tedious to manually improve the initial tuning. Therefore, this article presents a novel optimisation methodology based on the Monte Carlo method to automatically improve the manually tuned multiple feedback control loops. Damage Equivalent Loads are quantified for minimising the cost function and automatically update the control parameters. The preliminary results presented here show the potential of this novel optimisation methodology to improve the mechanical fatigue loads of the desired components whereas maintaining the overall performance of the wind turbine system. This methodology provides a good balance between the computational complexity and result effectiveness. The study is carried out with the fully coupled non-linear NREL 5-MW wind turbine model mounted on the ITI Energy’s barge and the FASTv8 code.

scholarly journals Optimal Design of Rated Wind Speed and Rotor Radius to Minimizing the Cost of Energy for Offshore Wind Turbines

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Longfu Luo ◽  
Xiaofeng Zhang ◽  
Dongran Song ◽  
Weiyi Tang ◽  
Jian Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Optimal Design ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Offshore Wind Energy ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbines ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
The Cost

As onshore wind energy has depleted, the utilization of offshore wind energy has gradually played an important role in globally meeting growing green energy demands. However, the cost of energy (COE) for offshore wind energy is very high compared to the onshore one. To minimize the COE, implementing optimal design of offshore turbines is an effective way, but the relevant studies are lacking. This study proposes a method to minimize the COE of offshore wind turbines, in which two design parameters, including the rated wind speed and rotor radius are optimally designed. Through this study, the relation among the COE and the two design parameters is explored. To this end, based on the power-coefficient power curve model, the annual energy production (AEP) model is designed as a function of the rated wind speed and the Weibull distribution parameters. On the other hand, the detailed cost model of offshore turbines developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is formulated as a function of the rated wind speed and the rotor radius. Then, the COE is formulated as the ratio of the total cost and the AEP. Following that, an iterative method is proposed to search the minimal COE which corresponds to the optimal rated wind speed and rotor radius. Finally, the proposed method has been applied to the wind classes of USA, and some useful findings have been obtained.

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