Improvement of tuned rolling cylinder damper for wind turbine tower vibration control considering real wind distribution

Abstract

Researchers have stated that the larger the roller moment of inertia, the better the tuned rolling cylinder damper (TRCD). However, this statement has not been confirmed. Thus, this study investigates the effect of the roller moment of inertia on the TRCD performance using parametric studies. It is found that the smaller the roller moment of inertia, the better the TRCD performance, which is contrary to conventional belief. Roller rotary movements are detrimental to vibration control; therefore, an improved TRCD that uses a bearing to connect the support wheel and roller of the TRCD is proposed. The performances of the original TRCD, improved TRCD, and tuned mass damper (TMD) are examined and compared. The numerical results show that the improved TRCD has a vibration control performance similar to that of the TMD, with a difference of only 0.6% in the tower bottom moment and 0.9% in the tower top movement. They are superior to the original TRCD, with improvements of 8.8% and 25.5% in tower bottom moment and tower top movement, respectively. Moreover, the TRCD performance would be reduced to zero if the TRCDs were designed according to the incorrect statement.