Abstract
This paper illustrates the mechatronic design of the wind tunnel scale model of the DTU 10MW reference wind turbine, for the LIFES50+ H2020 European project. This model was designed with the final goal of controlling the angle of attack of each blade by means of miniaturized servomotors, for implementing advanced individual pitch control (IPC) laws on a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) 1/75 scale model. Many design constraints were to be respected: among others, the rotor-nacelle overall mass due to aero-elastic scaling, the limited space of the nacelle, where to put three miniaturized servomotors and the main shaft one, with their own inverters/controllers, the slip rings for electrical rotary contacts, the highest stiffness as possible for the nacelle support and the blade-rotor connections, for ensuring the proper kinematic constraint, considering the first flapwise blade natural frequency, the performance of the servomotors to guarantee the wide frequency band due to frequency scale factors, etc. The design and technical solutions are herein presented and discussed, along with an overview of the building and verification process. Also a discussion about the goals achieved and constraints respected for the rigid wind turbine scale model (LIFES50+ deliverable D.3.1) and the further possible improvements for the IPC-aero-elastic scale model, which is being finalized at the time of this paper.
Highlights
LIFES50+ is an H2020 EU project, which aims at proving cost effective technology for floating substructures for 10MW wind turbines, at water depths greater than 50 m
As it can be noticed the constraints regarding the mass are very strict, especially the ones related to the nacelle and the rotor: considering the presence of three motors dedicated to the individual pitch control (IPC) control, the main shaft motor the slip ring in the nacelle, which represent mandatory components with non modifiable masses, and represent almost the major percentage of the overall mass
This paper presented the methodological approach, the final design and the features of the wind turbine rigid scale model of the LIFES50+ project
Summary
LIFES50+ is an H2020 EU project, which aims at proving cost effective technology for floating substructures for 10MW wind turbines, at water depths greater than 50 m. As it can be noticed the constraints regarding the mass are very strict, especially the ones related to the nacelle and the rotor: considering the presence of three motors dedicated to the IPC control, the main shaft motor the slip ring in the nacelle, which represent mandatory components with non modifiable masses, and represent almost the major percentage of the overall mass These requirements are very hard to be met and sometime imposing to test ins slightly different conditions compared to the initial scaling factor targets. Tower top: the functional element of the tower is a 6-axes balance which is placed between the nacelle and a connection flange on the top of the tower to measure the overall rotor forces
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
