Analysis of Wind Turbine Power Generation with Individual Pitch Control

Abstract

This paper deals with the analysis of wind turbine power generation when using the Individual Pitch Control (IPC) technique for the blade pitch control of wind turbines. The IPC is used to reduce asymmetrical mechanical loads by controlling the pitch angles individually, and it is superimposed on Collective Pitch Control (CPC). The main objective of this paper is to compare the power generation of wind turbines when using only Collective Pitch Controller (normally used to control the rotor speed) with the case when the IPC is active. This comparison is carried out in the rotor speed control region of operation (nominal power generation), when the IPC is commonly used to reduce loads. Simulation results using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory - NREL aero-hydro-servo-elastic CAE tool FAST are presented in order to validate the theoretical analysis.