Response Of Wind Turbine Research Articles

Dynamic responses of monopile offshore wind turbines under different wind-wave misalignment angles

Wind-wave misalignment is a common occurrence for monopile offshore wind turbines during extreme typhoon conditions. This phenomenon has a significant impact on the structural dynamic response of turbine structures and poses a threat to their structural integrity. In this study, finite element analysis is conducted on 75 sets of working conditions of monopile offshore wind turbines to investigate their dynamic response under different wind turbine operating states, wind-wave misalignment angles, and randomness of wind and wave load conditions. The results of the analysis indicate that the impact of wind-wave misalignment angles on the dynamic response of the monopile offshore wind turbine varies depending on the operational conditions. Furthermore, the study reveals that there are variations in the dynamic response of the monopile offshore wind turbine under different combinations of wind and wave loads. During the parked state and yaw system fault of the monopile offshore wind turbine, the most adverse working conditions need to consider wind-wave misalignment angles of 0° and 180°. In contrast, the most adverse working conditions for operational states emerge when the wind-wave misalignment angle is 90°. These findings highlight the importance of considering wind-wave misalignment angles and the randomness of wind and wave load conditions when assessing the dynamic response and structural integrity of monopile offshore wind turbines.

Optimization and evaluation of tuned inerter-based dampers for mitigating coupled responses of offshore wind turbines

To achieve lightweight vibration control in offshore wind turbines (OWTs), this study proposes the utilization of two types of tuned inerter-based dampers (TIBDs), namely, the tuned viscous mass damper (TVMD) and tuned inerter damper (TID), to mitigate the coupled responses of an OWT induced by wind and wave loads. First, a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) lumped mass model is established to represent an OWT equipped with a TIBD. Then, a novel structural control module for TIBDs is developed and seamlessly integrated into the modular numerical analysis code OpenFAST. This enables fully coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulations of the OWT-TIBD system. Using the established MDOF model, a TIBD parameter optimization design method is proposed to minimize the peak of the non-dimensional displacement frequency response function. Additionally, a parametric study is performed to investigate the effect of inertance and span height on the control performance. Finally, the performance of the TIBD in attenuating both fatigue and extreme loads is evaluated through nonlinear fully coupled time-domain simulations using OpenFAST and compared to traditional tuned mass dampers (TMDs). The results showed that a lightweight and small damper displacement TIBD is capable of effectively dampening OWT vibrations, yielding a better mitigation effect than that provided by a bulky TMD. Overall, the reduced installation requirements and the commendable control efficiency of a TIBD highlight its potential as a promising candidate for passive control devices in OWT applications.

The impact of extreme wind conditions and yaw misalignment on the aeroelastic responses of a parked offshore wind turbine

As global energy demands rise and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, offshore wind energy technology has evolved rapidly, becoming a vital component of the world’s energy portfolio. However, offshore wind turbines face new challenges due to complex marine environments. Under extreme conditions such as strong winds and yaw misalignment, parked wind turbines exhibit complex aerodynamic and structural responses that significantly differ from those in normal operating conditions. These responses, crucial to the integrity and safety of wind turbines, demand thorough analysis. This article presents an in-depth aeroelastic analysis of a parked 5 MW offshore wind turbine using a sophisticated and precise numerical model. It explores the impacts of incoming wind speed and yaw misalignment on the aerodynamic loads and structural behaviors of the wind turbine. The findings indicate that gravity plays a significant role in blade structural responses for a parked wind turbine. Additionally, higher wind speeds elevate aerodynamic forces, leading to more pronounced fluctuations in root forces and tip deflections. The increase in wind speed triggers and exacerbates high-frequency edgewise vibrations of the blade, further leading to fluctuations and instability in the loads. The study also reveals that yaw misalignment causes the AOA changes significantly over time, and generates intermittent fluctuations in lift and drag, leading to extra blade vibrations with the maximum amplitude exceeding 10% of the blade length. This research enhances the current understanding of the operational safety of offshore wind turbines, particularly under extreme conditions. It aims to provide valuable insights and guidance for researchers and developers in designing and monitoring the performance of offshore wind turbines, ensuring their resilience and efficiency in challenging environments.

Influence of earthquake ground motion types on the seismic responses of wind turbines

Influence of earthquake ground motion types on the seismic responses of wind turbines

A semi-analytical approach for dynamic responses of monopile-supported offshore wind turbines subjected to accidental loads

Offshore wind energy is leading the way in sustainable energy generation. Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) need to be designed to withstand extreme or accidental loads in Ultimate Limit States (ULS) and Accidental Limit States (ALS), whereby high order eigenmodes may become significant. This paper introduces a semi-analytical approach for efficient and reliable analysis of the dynamic responses of monopile-supported OWTs subjected to accidental loads. A Rayleigh-Ritz solution is initially adopted to determine the high-order natural frequencies and eigenmodes of monopile OWTs, explicitly considering tapered towers and soil-pile interactions. Dynamic responses of OWTs are then calculated depending on the interaction schemes between accidental loads and the structures, e.g. soft contact loads (e.g. slamming, wind) and hard contact loads (e.g. ship collisions, ice impact). For soft contact loading conditions, the loads are considered independent of turbine responses, and the transient dynamic response is computed using the classical modal superposition method. While for hard contact loading conditions, the load actions depend on the contact stiffnesses and responses of the interacting bodies. A numerical contact algorithm is thus developed, and numerical iterations are performed to ensure convergence. The proposed approach is applied to the DTU 10 MW monopile-supported OWT subjected to extreme water slamming and ship collisions, respectively as example applications of soft and hard contact scenarios. The results are verified against nonlinear finite element analysis using USFOS and discussed with respect to the turbine natural frequencies and eigenmodes, contact forces and dynamic responses. A parametric analysis is conducted for ship-OWT collisions, exploring different impact scenarios by varying ship sizes, contact stiffnesses, and initial impact velocities. The proposed approach can serve as a promising tool for accidental load response analysis and the design of monopile OWTs.

Hydrodynamic performance of a monopile offshore wind turbine in extreme wave groups

Dynamic responses of offshore wind turbines, particularly under extreme wave excitations, are crucial to structural design. Extreme waves, e.g. breaking waves, are random processes, which induce uncertainty in the estimation of dynamic responses. This type of uncertainty has been accommodated through a safety of factor which is conservative and thus leads to cost inflation. To reduce the cost and enable economically viable development of offshore wind, it is essential to understand the dynamic process of offshore wind turbines under extreme wave excitation scenarios. However, it is challenging to predict these dynamic responses through numerical simulations, due to the nonlinearity and randomness in such a complex process. To overcome these challenges, this study conducted a series of physical model testing to better capture the extreme wave induced loads on a monopile, which are then served as input for numerical modelling. Through this hybrid model, different vibration mechanisms are revealed, which shed lights on further cost reduction in the design of offshore wind turbines.

Investigations on rigid–flexible coupling multibody dynamics of 5 MW wind turbine

AbstractThe flexible system of wind turbines refers to the components such as blades, towers, and rotor shafts that are subjected to external forces such as wind loads, inertial forces, and gravity during operation, resulting in deformation and vibration. This paper proposes that dynamic response analysis of the flexible system, through the response data, put forward improvement measures to improve the stability. The flexible dynamic response of wind turbine was analyzed. The fluid dynamics and structural dynamics of wind turbine are analyzed by the finite element method, and the flow chart is combined to get the wind turbine velocity, pressure, shear stress, and vorticity distribution nephogram. The results provide a reference value for monitoring structural state dynamics parameters of large wind turbines. Wind power generation technology is relatively mature, and its proportion in the field of power generation is gradually increasing. Wind energy is inexhaustible and can occupy a place in the development and utilization of new energy for a long time. This study provides an important reference for determining the dynamic parameters of wind turbine operation and improves the stability and reliability of wind turbine operation. The results provide a reference value for monitoring structural state dynamics parameters of large wind turbines.

Analytical approach for lateral dynamic responses of offshore wind turbines supported by cement-soil composite steel pipe pile embedded in gassy marine sediment layer

This study aims to clarify and gain an insight into the lateral dynamic response of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) supported by cement-soil composite steel (CCS) pipe pile embedded in gassy marine sediment layer by developing an analytical approach. In the proposed approach, the CCS pipe pile-supported OWT system is divided into three parts including the tower part, the seawater-immersed steel pipe pile part, and the embedded CCS pipe pile part. The lateral dynamic behaviours of the CCS pipe pile-supported OWT system have been determined and then validated by solving the analytical solution of lateral displacement for the above three parts. Numerical discussions are finally conducted to analysis the influence of some physical parameters on the lateral displacement and the first-order natural frequency of the CCS pipe pile-supported OWT system. The main findings can be summarized as: (i) the offshore deep cement-soil mixing (ODCM) pile is an effective reinforcement method to reduce the lateral vibration of conventional steel pipe pile-supported OWTs; (ii) the increase in tower height and seawater layer thickness will have a serious negative impact on the lateral dynamic response of CCS pipe pile-supported OWTs; (iii) the increase in gas saturation of gassy marine soil will lead to a negative influence on the maximum lateral displacement of CCS pipe pile-supported OWTs.

Seismic response of jacket-supported offshore wind turbines for different operational modes considering earthquake directionality

This study aims to analyse how jacket-supported OWTs functioning in three different operational modes (power production, emergency shutdown and parked mode) respond to seismic actions when subject to different incoming wind directions and ground motion shaking directions. To do so, the seismic response of the NREL 5MW OWT founded on the OC4 jacket substructure is simulated using an OpenFAST model that includes multi-support seismic input, soil–structure interaction and kinematic interaction. The impact of the working conditions and of the directionality of the loads on the jacket substructure is analysed and discussed. The tower top accelerations and displacements are examined for different sets of cases, and the seismic response of the jacket is studied in terms of internal forces and von Mises stresses along the different levels of the substructure. The results show, and quantify, the relevance of considering the different operational modes for a correct design of the substructure and of the foundation. The maximum structural stresses within the jacket substructure appear almost always in power production, with the exception of the top part of the legs, where higher stresses arise during emergency shutdown in several cases.

Optimal design of a hinge-spring-friction device for enhancing wind induced structural response of onshore wind turbines

Wind turbines are subjected to fluctuating wind loads leading to considerable forces and structural fatigue to the towers, ultimately affecting costs, performances, and lifespan, for the tower as well as for the foundation. To mitigate these issues, both in terms of peak and fatigue structural demand, this paper presents the development and optimization of a Hinge-Spring-Friction Device (HSFD) designed for onshore wind turbines. A decoupled numerical model of the wind turbine system incorporating the HSFD is first established. The wind load is modelled by means of the open-source software QBlade© accounting for different wind conditions. These loads are then applied to a FEM structural model of the wind turbine developed in Simulink© and optimized for computational efficiency. The optimal design parameters (strength and stiffness of the frictional and elastic part, respectively) of the HSFD are determined through a multi-objective constrained optimization algorithm, minimizing the peak base moment and total damage fatigue. The proposed framework is then applied to a NREL 5 MW wind turbine to provide an applicative example. The results show that the optimized HSFD can significantly reduce the fatigue damage and the base moment demand to the tower, so providing a really promising solution for the effective design of wind turbines as well as for the repowering of existing plants.

An innovative segmented blade concept with a partial pitch control for large wind turbine systems

This study investigates the feasibility of a segmented blade with a partial pitch concept. Three different cases were considered where the pitch bearing is positioned at 33%R, 50%R and 66%R, respectively. The PI controller is used with different controller gains corresponding to the blade design. Wind step case and DLC1.1 are applied to analyse its performances. From the wind step case, general controller behaviours and wind turbine responses are investigated. From DLC1.1, the statistics and ultimate loads are studied. From this study, it could be concluded that the segmented blade with a partial pitch could benefit to maintain power without increasing extra loads too much.

SEAHOWL: Partitioned Multiphysics and Multifidelity Modelling of Wind Turbines with Monolithically Coupled Elastodynamics

We introduce SEAHOWL (Servo-Elasto-Aero-Hydro Offshore Wind Lab), a novel multiphysics multifidelity simulation framework for large-scale onshore, offshore, and floating wind turbines. For structural dynamics, multibody and finite element problems are coupled monolithically and solved within a single system of equations through Project Chrono, providing high numerical stability and optimal coupling accuracy. Combined with partitioned multiphysics, modularity is at the heart of the framework with various numerical methods and solvers (internal or external) available for each physics. This flexibility allows for the selection a target trade-off between numerical accuracy and computational efficiency on a use-case basis. Simulations showcased here have been selected through the prism of industrial R&D challenges, covering: controller response and loads over the operational wind range, 3P effect for different levels of fidelity for the blades, floating wind turbine response under irregular waves and turbulent wind, and innovative multibody application for 3P fatigue mitigation. SEAHOWL is cross-validated against the reference OpenFAST whole-turbine simulator from NREL, showing overall good agreement while differences between the two frameworks are highlighted.

Floating wind turbine response in uni- and multi-directional nonlinear waves by numerical and experimental investigations

Natural sea waves are typically multi-directional. However, the existing studies on the interaction of waves and structures mostly concentrate on uni-directional waves. In this study, using a higher-order boundary element method based on the nonlinear potential flow theory and the perturbation expansion technique, a numerical model is developed to investigate the hydrodynamic performance of a semi-submersible wind turbine foundation in uni- and multi-directional waves. Comprehensive validations with the wave-tank experiment are conducted. It is found that the significant platform response increases with the peak wave period in uni-directional irregular waves, while the high-frequency “energy” ratio changes little. The significant wave height hardly influences motion responses from either the time- or the frequency-domain perspective. In multi-directional irregular waves, the translational motions exhibit monotonicity with wave directionality. The energy concentration around the primary direction leads to a dominant wave-frequency motion and an increase in the high-frequency “energy” ratio. Although the individual modal motion responses are variable functions of wave nonlinearity, their averaged translational and rotational motions are nearly constant, indicating an energy transition or a trade-off relationship among the modal motions. In addition, unlike the uni-directional wave case, the low- and high-frequency “energy” ratios increase quadratically and decrease linearly with the significant wave height in multi-directional waves, respectively. All these findings demonstrate that wave directionality can change the wave–structure interaction properties and therefore needs to be adequately considered in engineering applications.

Short-term extreme value prediction for the structural responses of the IEA 15 MW offshore wind turbine under extreme environmental conditions

As offshore wind turbines enter deep seas, large-scale models ranging from 15 MW to 20 MW are becoming the mainstream choice for the future market. The dynamic responses of 15 MW wind turbines under extreme environmental conditions should be considered in the design process. With increasing structure sizes, the mooring systems and tower base structures play essential roles in maintaining position and supporting wind turbines under harsh environmental conditions. Accurate estimation of the extreme mooring loads and dynamic responses at the tower base is crucial, particularly for the ultimate limit state (ULS) analysis. The dynamic responses of the offshore wind turbine are calculated by Open Fast and validated with other numerical tools. For the safety of deep-sea structures, it is necessary to consider the extreme environmental conditions with a 100-year return period, which is beyond the current standards. An environmental contour-based approach is proposed to select the short-term extreme conditions, enabling approximate prediction of the extreme values of the dynamic responses during the preliminary design stage. The Gumbel method and the ACER method are used to predict the short-term extreme dynamic responses. Comparative evaluations against the relevant standards for floating wind turbines are conducted to assess structural safety.

Natural frequency of offshore wind turbines on monopiles in sand

Offshore wind turbines are important for developing sustainable alternative energy sources. Assessing their natural frequencies is a major challenge since resonance can cause damage and even failure, especially for long-term dynamic behavior owing to environmental loads. Several model tests were conducted to understand the long-term dynamic responses of monopile-supported wind turbines buried in sand. An electrodynamic actuator was used to obtain the resonant responses of the structure and a cyclic loading device based on eccentric masses was used to apply long-term cyclic loading. The development of the natural frequency under long-term cyclic loading was investigated for two relative sand densities, three cyclic load amplitudes, and four cyclic numbers. Based on the test results, the frequency increased with increased cyclic number owing to the densification of sand. A larger amplitude results in a larger frequency for medium-dense sand, whereas the opposite tendency exists for dense sand; this is attributed to the reduced embedded depth of the monopile in dense sand accompanied by the subsidence of sand. A non-dimensional framework was used to interpret the change in the natural frequency when subjected to long-term cyclic loads. The empirical equation with the non-dimensional parameter provides an assessment of the long-term natural frequency.

New method for incorporating foundation damping in time-domain analysis of integrated offshore wind turbine structures

Foundation damping has significant potential for reducing the loads of monopile-supported offshore wind turbines. However, the contribution of foundation damping is not well understood, primarily because of the absence of suitable methods for incorporating it into the time-domain analysis of wind turbine structures. This paper presents a novel approach for this purpose. In this approach, a dashpot is attached parallel to each of the p-y springs along a monopile, which models the stiffness and damping of soil-pile interactions. Employing this approach, the influence of foundation damping on the structural dynamic response is investigated using the time-domain analysis of a monopile-supported IEA 15 MW reference wind turbine. The results demonstrate that foundation damping has a limited impact on the overall dynamic response and fatigue loads of wind turbines during power production. However, the foundation fatigue loads after an emergency shutdown can be reduced by 29-46% owing to the inclusion of foundation damping. In addition, foundation damping is found to significantly influence the bending moment, horizontal displacement, and angular rotation of the monopile at the mudline under parked conditions, with load reductions of up to 20%.

An experimental study on the influence of wind-wave-current coupling effect on the global performance of a 12 MW semi-submersible floating wind turbine

Investigating the coupling effect between different marine environmental conditions is essential to understand the dynamic response of wind turbines. This paper presents the study findings from the model tests conducted in a wave basin, exploring the coupling effect of wind, waves, and currents on the global performance of a 1:70 scale model 12 MW semi-submersible floating wind turbine (FWT). A multi-blade large-scale wind generation system with a rectifier network was improved and fabricated to provide a reliable wind field for the experiment. The stiffness-matched and geometry-matched tower models were designed and fabricated, achieving an accurate simulation of the tower's flexibility and windward areas and their impact on the global dynamic response. Following the calibration of marine environmental conditions and the characterization of the model FWT system, the study focused on the operational and extreme responses of the FWT concept. The aerodynamic damping effect of wind in pitch and surge motions is remarkable, especially in pitch motion, primarily manifesting by reducing the standard deviation of motions. Mooring load responses are predominantly induced by the hydrodynamic effect, with the wave-frequency response gradually becoming dominant as wave parameters increase. Tower-top load responses are primarily induced by the hydrodynamic effect of waves and the aerodynamic load effect of wind. Furthermore, the phenomenon where the action of current strengthens the aerodynamic damping effect of wind is observed. The coupling effect between wind and current amplifies surge motion while diminishing pitch motion, effectively reducing the tower-top and tower-base load responses.

Influence of pulse-like motions and extreme environmental loads on the seismic foundation response of offshore wind turbines on layered liquefiable soils

Monopile foundations are known as the most common foundation solution for offshore wind turbines (OWTs). However, the state of practice for designing monopile foundations in high seismicity areas is still limited. In particular, the impact of soil liquefaction on the seismic soil-foundation-OWT interaction is not yet well understood. In this paper, three-dimensional (3D), fully-coupled, nonlinear finite-element analyses performed in the OpenSees numerical platform were used to evaluate the seismic performance of a series of hypothetical 5 MW OWTs on monopile foundations in layered, liquefiable sites. A suite of earthquake recordings with and without strong velocity pulses (i.e., near fault, pulse-like and ordinary motions, respectively) was used to investigate the impact of ground motion characteristics on the seismic response of the OWT system. Also, the influence of soil-structure interaction and earthquake shaking coupled with extreme environmental loading (i.e., wind and wave loads) on the seismic performance of soil-OWT systems was evaluated. The numerical results showed pile movements induced by extreme climate loading led to a bias in permanent settlement accumulation across the foundation area and accumulation of soil deformations in the proximity of the pile. Ground motion velocity pulses increased the cyclic stress demand in soil and, therefore, the potential for the occurrence of soil liquefaction. A subsequent, limited numerical sensitivity study showed that the foundation rotations of the OWT system were influenced by ground motion characteristics such as polarity and velocity pulses, and the presence of the wind and wave loads. The cumulative absolute velocity (CAV) was identified as the optimum ground motion intensity measure for permanent foundation settlement and tilt as well as for peak transient foundation tilt of the OWT system under extreme environmental loadings. The net outcome of these factors determined the magnitude and orientation of the foundation rotations at the end of shaking. This study highlights the importance of considering the effects of extreme loadings and pulse-like motions in the design and performance of OWT systems.

Experimental and numerical study on dynamic response of offshore wind turbine subjected to earthquake loads

In order to investigate the response of offshore wind turbines (OWTs) under earthquake, shaking table test is conducted using a 6.45 MW OWT as prototype. The effective length of the embedded steel pile is determined using the equivalent embedment method, and a scale model with a similarity constant of 1:15 is designed. The dynamic characteristics of the scale model are evaluated through position-shift and white noise. Three earthquakes with different spectrum characteristics are utilized as inputs, and subsequently, an analysis is performed to assess the earthquake response of the OWT. The results demonstrate that the dynamic characteristics between the scale model and the prototype model meet the similarity constants. Due to the eccentric mass, torsional vibrations are induced when subjected to bidirectional excitation, resulting in the occurrence of ‘beat vibration’ phenomenon. The acceleration is significantly influenced by the excitation spectrum, with the maximum occurring at either the top or 2/3 height, and Darfield with wide spectrum result in a more pronounced stimulation. The displacements are all observed at the pinnacle of the tower. The Imperial and Kocaeli, characterized by shorter duration and higher energy concentration, elicit more pronounced displacement. Stress concentration occurs at the lower 1/3 due to sudden stiffness change.

Gyroscopic effects of the spinning rotor-blades assembly on dynamic response of offshore wind turbines

An analytical solution for the gyroscopic effect of the spinning rotor-blades assembly on the dynamic response of offshore wind turbines (OWT) is presented. A continuous coupled model is rigorously developed to form the partial differential equations of fore-aft, side-side, and yaw motions. The gyroscopic moments caused by the angular momentum of the spinning rotor-blades assembly are formulated and handled into the three boundary conditions at the nacelle. The procedure for obtaining the operational natural frequencies of the structure including these coupled boundary conditions is developed. Furthermore, a response function for each fore-aft and yaw motions is obtained by solving the equations of motion under a wave load applied in only the fore-aft direction. Finally, the operational natural frequencies are calculated and compared to the idling ones for the considered example of OWT. The response of the structure under different values of the rotor-blades assembly's angular velocity is investigated. The proposed solution in this study unfolds a revelational procedure in capturing the gyroscopic effect in wind turbine industries which also can be a guideline for developing the floating OWT models.