FVA Research Nacelle
Stresses on Drive Train Components of Wind Turbines
The objective of this project is to analyze and reduce local stresses in the electro-mechanical drivetrain of wind turbine generators via validated component simulation models. This is an essential key to avoid design-related claims and to increase the availability and cost effectiveness of wind turbine generators. The major challenges of wind turbine generator concepts, such as extreme torque, complex load changes in all six degrees of freedom, permanently unsteady operation, an unbalanced ratio between global deformations and required local contact conditions and intense interactions across component interfaces are often insufficiently taken into account in existing simulation models. Within the scope of this project, the reliability of the developed simulation models is increased significantly through the validation by a full size research wind turbine generator. The crucial factor of this approach is the systematic and reproducible adjustment of various operating and loading conditions with comprehensive measurement instrumentation of the wind turbine generator under unique laboratory conditions.
In collaboration with project partners, PGS focuses on the electrical drives train and its interaction with other components of the nacelle as wells with the electrical grids. Power electronic converter of the nacelle may experience stresses due to dynamic grid voltage, for instance voltage dips. Compared to the today's applied method, the grid emulator developed within the project enables a wide spectrum of test scenarios and thus more comprehensive study regarding the grid interaction is enabled. Critical tests such us low-voltage ride through (LVRT) can be conducted also in combination with severe wind situations to investigate the behavior of the whole nacelle assembly in such extreme operation conditions.
This project is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany and conducted at Center for Wind Power Drives (CWD) RWTH Aachen University.
Duration: January 01, 2015 - December 31, 2017
Partners: FVA e.V., Siemens AG