Variable-speed Variable-pitch control for a wind turbine scale model

Alessandro Fontanella,Marco Belloli,Ilmas Bayati,Federico Taruffi

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1356/1/012002

Abstract

The present work deals with the issues faced by authors in the implementation of a variable-speed variable-pitch (VS-VP) controller on a wind turbine scale model for wind tunnel tests. The PoliMi 1/75 model of the DTU 10MW reference wind turbine (RWT) is presented, focusing on the mechatronic system used to control the machine. The main differences between the PoliMi wind turbine model (WTM) and the DTU 10MW RWT are highlighted out pointing out their influence on the behavior of the controlled machine. Then, the control logic adopted for the PoliMi WTM is introduced. Finally, results from wind tunnel tests on the controlled model are shown and the performance of the closed-loop system is discussed.

Highlights

Within last years, floating o↵shore wind power has been recognized as a high potential source of renewable energy, and di↵erent research projects are currently being developed to push further the limits of this technology
A slightly modified version of the Basic DTU Wind Energy Controller was implemented on a 1/75 scale model of the DTU 10MW
The response of the controlled wind turbine scale model was assessed through wind tunnel tests and analyzed to understand any di↵erence with respect to the DTU 10MW reference wind turbine (RWT)

Summary

Introduction

Within last years, floating o↵shore wind power has been recognized as a high potential source of renewable energy, and di↵erent research projects are currently being developed to push further the limits of this technology. A complete mechatronic system was designed to provide the wind turbine model the same functionalities and regulation capabilities of a full-scale machine, enabling the possibility to test control laws and study their e↵ect on the global system response This makes the wind turbine start-up process, where rotor speed is low, di cult It a↵ects the steady-state response in above rated conditions, where rotor speed is limited and low values of are reached: being the WTM Cp lower than the DTU 10MW target, a lower pitch angle is required on the model to keep power at its rated value. A linear transition is used, in place of a PI controller [16], to pass from the generator torque reached at the end of the partial load control region (set by !G,max) to the rated torque QG,0 reached at !G,0

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Conclusions