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Wind Turbines 2013

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2013) | Viewed by 133318

Special Issue Editor

Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: power electronics and its applications in motor drives; wind turbines; PV systems; harmonics; reliability of power electronic systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This issue is an continuation of the previous successful special issue "Wind Turbines". Similarly, this issue also focuses on recent advances in the wind energy sector on a wide range of topics, including: wind resource mapping, wind intermittency issues, aerodynamics, foundations, aeroelasticity, wind turbine technologies, control of wind turbines, diagnostics, generator concepts incl gearless concepts, power electronic converters, grid interconnection, ride-through operation, protection, wind farm layouts - optimization and control, reliability, operations and maintenance, effects of wind farms on local and global climate, wind power stations, smart-grid and micro-grid related to wind turbine operation.

Prof. Dr. Frede Blaabjerg
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

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686 KiB  
Article
Damping Wind and Wave Loads on a Floating Wind Turbine
by Søren Christiansen, Thomas Bak and Torben Knudsen
Energies 2013, 6(8), 4097-4116; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6084097 - 09 Aug 2013
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 9442
Abstract
Offshore wind energy capitalizes on the higher and less turbulent wind speeds at sea. To enable deployment of wind turbines in deep-water locations, structures are being explored, where wind turbines are placed on a floating platform. This combined structure presents a new control [...] Read more.
Offshore wind energy capitalizes on the higher and less turbulent wind speeds at sea. To enable deployment of wind turbines in deep-water locations, structures are being explored, where wind turbines are placed on a floating platform. This combined structure presents a new control problem, due to the partly unconstrained movement of the platform and ocean wave excitation. If this additional complexity is not dealt with properly, this may lead to a significant increase in the structural loads and, potentially, instability of the controlled system. In this paper, the wave excitation is investigated, and we show the influence that both wind speed, wave frequencies and misalignment between wind and waves have on the system dynamics. A new control model is derived that extends standard turbine models to include the hydrodynamics, additional platform degrees of freedom, the platform mooring system and tower side-side motion, including gyroscopic effects. The models support a model-based design that includes estimators for wind speed and wave frequency. The design is applied to a number of examples representing different wind and wave conditions and successfully demonstrates a reduction in the structural oscillations, while improving power performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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574 KiB  
Article
A Virtual Tool for Minimum Cost Design of a Wind Turbine Tower with Ring Stiffeners
by Fatih Karpat
Energies 2013, 6(8), 3822-3840; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6083822 - 29 Jul 2013
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7865
Abstract
Currently, renewable energy resources are becoming more important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. Researchers have focused on all components of wind turbines to increase reliability and minimize cost. In this paper, a procedure including a cost analysis method and [...] Read more.
Currently, renewable energy resources are becoming more important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. Researchers have focused on all components of wind turbines to increase reliability and minimize cost. In this paper, a procedure including a cost analysis method and a particle swarm optimization algorithm has been presented to efficiently design low cost steel wind turbine towers. A virtual tool is developed in MATLAB for the cost optimization of wind turbine steel towers with ring stiffeners using a particle swarm optimization algorithm. A wind turbine tower optimization problem in the literature is solved using the developed computer program. In the optimization procedure the optimization results match very well with the optimization results obtained previously. The wall thickness of the shell segments and the dimensions of the ring stiffeners are selected as the design variables, and the limits of the local buckling for the flat ring stiffeners, the local shell buckling limit, the panel ring buckling limit and the limitation of the frequency are considered the design constraints. Numerical examples are presented to understand the impacts of the design variables on the total cost of the wind turbine tower. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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653 KiB  
Article
Flicker Mitigation by Speed Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Variable-Speed Wind Turbines
by Weihao Hu, Yunqian Zhang, Zhe Chen and Yanting Hu
Energies 2013, 6(8), 3807-3821; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6083807 - 29 Jul 2013
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7772
Abstract
Grid-connected wind turbines are fluctuating power sources that may produce flicker during continuous operation. This paper presents a simulation model of a MW-level variable speed wind turbine with a full-scale back-to-back power converter and permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) developed in the simulation [...] Read more.
Grid-connected wind turbines are fluctuating power sources that may produce flicker during continuous operation. This paper presents a simulation model of a MW-level variable speed wind turbine with a full-scale back-to-back power converter and permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) developed in the simulation tool of PSCAD/EMTDC. Flicker emission of this system is investigated. The 3p (three times per revolution) power oscillation due to wind shear and tower shadow effects is the significant part in the flicker emission of variable speed wind turbines with PMSG during continuous operation. A new method of flicker mitigation by controlling the rotational speed is proposed. It smoothes the 3p active power oscillations from wind shear and tower shadow effects of the wind turbine by varying the rotational speed of the PMSG. Simulation results show that damping the 3p active power oscillation by using the flicker mitigation speed controller is an effective means for flicker mitigation of variable speed wind turbines with full-scale back-to-back power converters and PMSG during continuous operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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1237 KiB  
Article
Application of Circulation Controlled Blades for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
by Andrew Shires and Velissarios Kourkoulis
Energies 2013, 6(8), 3744-3763; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6083744 - 26 Jul 2013
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9226
Abstract
The blades of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) rotor see an inconsistent angle of attack through its rotation. Consequently, VAWT blades generally use symmetrical aerofoils with a lower lift-to-drag ratio than cambered aerofoils tailored to maximise horizontal axis wind turbine rotor performance. [...] Read more.
The blades of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) rotor see an inconsistent angle of attack through its rotation. Consequently, VAWT blades generally use symmetrical aerofoils with a lower lift-to-drag ratio than cambered aerofoils tailored to maximise horizontal axis wind turbine rotor performance. This paper considers the feasibility of circulation controlled (CC) VAWT blades, using a tangential air jet to provide lift and therefore power augmentation. However CC blade sections require a higher trailing-edge thickness than conventional sections giving rise to additional base drag. The choice of design parameters is a compromise between lift augmentation, additional base drag as well as the power required to pump the air jet. Although CC technology has been investigated for many years, particularly for aerospace applications, few researchers have considered VAWT applications. This paper considers the feasibility of the technology, using Computational Fluid Dynamics to evaluate a baseline CC aerofoil with different trailing-edge ellipse shapes. Lift and drag increments due to CC are considered within a momentum based turbine model to determine net power production. The study found that for modest momentum coefficients significant net power augmentation can be achieved with a relatively simple aerofoil geometry if blowing is controlled through the blades rotation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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9129 KiB  
Article
Contribution of Small Wind Turbine Structural Vibration to Noise Emission
by Ehsan Mollasalehi, Qiao Sun and David Wood
Energies 2013, 6(8), 3669-3691; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6083669 - 25 Jul 2013
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7103
Abstract
A major barrier to the acceptance of small wind turbines is that they are perceived to be noisy. This paper investigates an aspect of noise emission that has not been considered; vibration and noise generation from the tower. First, vibration measurements were made [...] Read more.
A major barrier to the acceptance of small wind turbines is that they are perceived to be noisy. This paper investigates an aspect of noise emission that has not been considered; vibration and noise generation from the tower. First, vibration measurements were made using accelerometers placed on the 10.2 m monopole tower of a Skystream 2.4 kW wind turbine, and natural frequencies and corresponding deflection shapes were calculated. Second, the results from the survey were used to verify the predictions of a finite element model of the tower structure. Lastly, the tower’s acoustic emission was simulated computationally, as it was not possible to measure it accurately. Most vibration energy occurred in the very low frequency band (≤10 Hz). It was found that wind itself can only excite the first two bending modes. On the other hand, emitted noise from the tower at large distances can be neglected, as close to the tower, the noise can reach 30 dB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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544 KiB  
Article
Operation and Control of a Direct-Driven PMSG-Based Wind Turbine System with an Auxiliary Parallel Grid-Side Converter
by Zaijun Wu, Xiaobo Dou, Jiawei Chu and Minqiang Hu
Energies 2013, 6(7), 3405-3421; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6073405 - 12 Jul 2013
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 9301
Abstract
In this paper, based on the similarity, in structure and principle, between a grid-connected converter for a direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generator (D-PMSG) and an active power filter (APF), a new D-PMSG-based wind turbine (WT) system configuration that includes not only an auxiliary [...] Read more.
In this paper, based on the similarity, in structure and principle, between a grid-connected converter for a direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generator (D-PMSG) and an active power filter (APF), a new D-PMSG-based wind turbine (WT) system configuration that includes not only an auxiliary converter in parallel with the grid-side converter, but also a coordinated control strategy, is proposed to enhance the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability and improve power quality. During normal operation, the main grid-side converter maintains the DC-link voltage constant, whereas the auxiliary grid-side converter functions as an APF with harmonic suppression and reactive power compensation to improve the power quality. During grid faults, a hierarchical coordinated control scheme for the generator-side converter, main grid-side converter and auxiliary grid-side converter, depending on the grid voltage sags, is presented to enhance the LVRT capability of the direct-driven PMSG WT. The feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed system’s topology and hierarchical coordinated control strategy were verified using MATLAB/Simulink simulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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2019 KiB  
Article
Feasibility of a Simple Small Wind Turbine with Variable-Speed Regulation Made of Commercial Components
by Andrés Bravo Cuesta, Francisco Javier Gomez-Gil, Juan Vicente Martín Fraile, Jesús Ausín Rodríguez, Justo Ruiz Calvo and Jesús Peláez Vara
Energies 2013, 6(7), 3373-3391; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6073373 - 10 Jul 2013
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7699
Abstract
The aim of this study was to propose and evaluate a very small wind turbine (VSWT) that competes with commercial grid-connected VSWTs in terms of simplicity, robustness and price. Its main components are a squirrel-cage induction generator (SCIG) driven by a frequency converter. [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to propose and evaluate a very small wind turbine (VSWT) that competes with commercial grid-connected VSWTs in terms of simplicity, robustness and price. Its main components are a squirrel-cage induction generator (SCIG) driven by a frequency converter. The system has a direct-drive shaft, and may be constructed with commercial equipment. Simulation of the wind turbine effect is done with a motor. A control program regulates the variable-speed of rotation through three operational modes: (i) to drive the turbine to its optimum operation point; (ii) to limit its maximum rotational speed; and (iii) to limit the maximum power it generates. Two tests were performed, in order to evaluate the dynamic response of this system under variable wind speeds. The tests demonstrate that the system operates at the optimum operational point of the turbine, and within the set limits of maximum rotational speed and maximum generated power. The drop in performance in relation to its nominal value is about 75%, when operating at 50% of the nominal power. In summary, this VSWT with its proposed control program is feasible and reliable for operating direct-shaft grid-connected VSWTs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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680 KiB  
Article
An Analysis of Variable-Speed Wind Turbine Power-Control Methods with Fluctuating Wind Speed
by Yun-Su Kim, Il-Yop Chung and Seung-Il Moon
Energies 2013, 6(7), 3323-3338; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6073323 - 05 Jul 2013
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 8166
Abstract
Variable-speed wind turbines (VSWTs) typically use a maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) method to optimize wind-energy acquisition. MPPT can be implemented by regulating the rotor speed or by adjusting the active power. The former, termed speed-control mode (SCM), employs a speed controller to regulate [...] Read more.
Variable-speed wind turbines (VSWTs) typically use a maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) method to optimize wind-energy acquisition. MPPT can be implemented by regulating the rotor speed or by adjusting the active power. The former, termed speed-control mode (SCM), employs a speed controller to regulate the rotor, while the latter, termed power-control mode (PCM), uses an active power controller to optimize the power. They are fundamentally equivalent; however, since they use a different controller at the outer control loop of the machine-side converter (MSC) controller, the time dependence of the control system differs depending on whether SCM or PCM is used. We have compared and analyzed the power quality and the power coefficient when these two different control modes were used in fluctuating wind speeds through computer simulations. The contrast between the two methods was larger when the wind-speed fluctuations were greater. Furthermore, we found that SCM was preferable to PCM in terms of the power coefficient, but PCM was superior in terms of power quality and system stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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1094 KiB  
Article
Harmonic Propagation and Interaction Evaluation between Small-Scale Wind Farms and Nonlinear Loads
by Guang-Long Xie, Bu-Han Zhang, Yan Li and Cheng-Xiong Mao
Energies 2013, 6(7), 3297-3322; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6073297 - 05 Jul 2013
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5717
Abstract
Distributed generation is a flexible and effective way to utilize renewable energy. The dispersed generators are quite close to the load, and pose some power quality problems such as harmonic current emissions. This paper focuses on the harmonic propagation and interaction between a [...] Read more.
Distributed generation is a flexible and effective way to utilize renewable energy. The dispersed generators are quite close to the load, and pose some power quality problems such as harmonic current emissions. This paper focuses on the harmonic propagation and interaction between a small-scale wind farm and nonlinear loads in the distribution grid. Firstly, by setting the wind turbines as P Q(V) nodes, the paper discusses the expanding Newton-Raphson power flow method for the wind farm. Then the generalized gamma mixture models are proposed to study the non-characteristic harmonic propagation of the wind farm, which are based on Gaussian mixture models, improved phasor clustering and generalized Gamma models. After the integration of the small-scale wind farm, harmonic emissions of nonlinear loads will become random and fluctuating due to the non-stationary wind power. Furthermore, in this paper the harmonic coupled admittance matrix model of nonlinear loads combined with a wind farm is deduced by rigorous formulas. Then the harmonic propagation and interaction between a real wind farm and nonlinear loads are analyzed by the harmonic coupled admittance matrix and generalized gamma mixture models. Finally, the proposed models and methods are verified through the corresponding simulation models in MATLAB/SIMULINK and PSCAD/EMTDC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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2245 KiB  
Article
The Analysis of the Aerodynamic Character and Structural Response of Large-Scale Wind Turbine Blades
by Xin Cai, Pan Pan, Jie Zhu and Rongrong Gu
Energies 2013, 6(7), 3134-3148; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6073134 - 27 Jun 2013
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 8180
Abstract
A process of detailed CFD and structural numerical simulations of the 1.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade is present. The main goal is to help advance the use of computer-aided simulation methods in the field of design and development of HAWT-blades. [...] Read more.
A process of detailed CFD and structural numerical simulations of the 1.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade is present. The main goal is to help advance the use of computer-aided simulation methods in the field of design and development of HAWT-blades. After an in-depth study of the aerodynamic configuration and materials of the blade, 3-D mapping software is utilized to reconstruct the high fidelity geometry, and then the geometry is imported into CFD and structure finite element analysis (FEA) software for completely simulation calculation. This research process shows that the CFD results compare well with the professional wind turbine design and certification software, GH-Bladed. Also, the modal analysis with finite element method (FEM) predicts well compared with experiment tests on a stationary blade. For extreme wind loads case that by considering a 50-year extreme gust simulated in CFD are unidirectional coupled to the FE-model, the results indicate that the maximum deflection of the blade tip is less than the distance between the blade tip (the point of maximum deflection) and the tower, the material of the blade provides enough resistance to the peak stresses the occur at the conjunction of shear webs and center spar cap. Buckling analysis is also included in the study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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1596 KiB  
Article
Using Atmospheric Pressure Tendency to Optimise Battery Charging in Off-Grid Hybrid Wind-Diesel Systems for Telecoms
by Shane Phelan, Paula Meehan and Stephen Daniels
Energies 2013, 6(6), 3052-3071; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6063052 - 20 Jun 2013
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6944
Abstract
Off grid telecom base stations in developing nations are powered by diesel generators. They are typically oversized and run at a fraction of their rated load for most of their operating lifetime. Running generators at partial load is inefficient and, over time, physically [...] Read more.
Off grid telecom base stations in developing nations are powered by diesel generators. They are typically oversized and run at a fraction of their rated load for most of their operating lifetime. Running generators at partial load is inefficient and, over time, physically damages the engine. A hybrid configuration uses a battery bank, which powers the telecoms’ load for a portion of the time. The generator only operates when the battery bank needs to be charged. Adding a wind turbine further reduces the generator run hours and saves fuel. The generator is oblivious to the current wind conditions, which leads to simultaneous generator-wind power production. As the batteries become charged by the generator, the wind turbine controller is forced to dump surplus power as heat through a resistive load. This paper details how the relationship between barometric pressure and wind speed can be used to add intelligence to the battery charger. A Simulink model of the system is developed to test the different battery charging configurations. This paper demonstrates that if the battery charger is aware of upcoming wind conditions, it will provide modest fuel savings and reduce generator run hours in small-scale hybrid energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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1744 KiB  
Article
The Performance Test of Three Different Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) Blade Shapes Using Experimental and Numerical Methods
by Fei-Bin Hsiao, Chi-Jeng Bai and Wen-Tong Chong
Energies 2013, 6(6), 2784-2803; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6062784 - 05 Jun 2013
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 12069
Abstract
Three different horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade geometries with the same diameter of 0.72 m using the same NACA4418 airfoil profile have been investigated both experimentally and numerically. The first is an optimum (OPT) blade shape, obtained using improved blade element momentum [...] Read more.
Three different horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade geometries with the same diameter of 0.72 m using the same NACA4418 airfoil profile have been investigated both experimentally and numerically. The first is an optimum (OPT) blade shape, obtained using improved blade element momentum (BEM) theory. A detailed description of the blade geometry is also given. The second is an untapered and optimum twist (UOT) blade with the same twist distributions as the OPT blade. The third blade is untapered and untwisted (UUT). Wind tunnel experiments were used to measure the power coefficients of these blades, and the results indicate that both the OPT and UOT blades perform with the same maximum power coefficient, Cp = 0.428, but it is located at different tip speed ratio, λ = 4.92 for the OPT blade and λ = 4.32 for the UOT blade. The UUT blade has a maximum power coefficient of Cp = 0.210 at λ = 3.86. After the tests, numerical simulations were performed using a full three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method using the k-ω SST turbulence model. It has been found that CFD predictions reproduce the most accurate model power coefficients. The good agreement between the measured and computed power coefficients of the three models strongly suggest that accurate predictions of HAWT blade performance at full-scale conditions are also possible using the CFD method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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1270 KiB  
Article
Coordinated Control of a DFIG-Based Wind-Power Generation System with SGSC under Distorted Grid Voltage Conditions
by Jun Yao, Qing Li, Zhe Chen and Aolin Liu
Energies 2013, 6(5), 2541-2561; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6052541 - 17 May 2013
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6472
Abstract
This paper presents a coordinated control method for a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind-power generation system with a series grid-side converter (SGSC) under distorted grid voltage conditions. The detailed mathematical models of the DFIG system with SGSC are developed in the multiple synchronous [...] Read more.
This paper presents a coordinated control method for a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind-power generation system with a series grid-side converter (SGSC) under distorted grid voltage conditions. The detailed mathematical models of the DFIG system with SGSC are developed in the multiple synchronous rotating reference frames. In order to counteract the adverse effects of the voltage harmonics upon the DFIG, the SGSC generates series compensation control voltages to keep the stator voltage sinusoidal and symmetrical, which allows the use of the conventional vector control strategy for the rotor-side converter (RSC), regardless of grid voltage harmonics. Meanwhile, two control targets for the parallel grid-side converter (PGSC) are identified, including eliminating the oscillations in total active and reactive power entering the grid or suppressing the fifth- and seventh-order harmonic currents injected to the grid. Furthermore, the respective PI-R controller in the positive synchronous reference frame for the SGSC voltage control and PGSC current control have been developed to achieve precise and rapid regulation of the corresponding components. Finally, the proposed coordinated control strategy has been fully validated by the simulation results of a 2 MW DFIG-based wind turbine with SGSC under distorted grid voltage conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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748 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Free-Atmosphere Stratification on Boundary-Layer Flow and Power Output from Very Large Wind Farms
by Mahdi Abkar and Fernando Porté-Agel
Energies 2013, 6(5), 2338-2361; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6052338 - 29 Apr 2013
Cited by 92 | Viewed by 9673
Abstract
Large-eddy simulation is used to study the influence of free-atmosphere stratification on the structure of atmospheric boundary-layer flow inside and above very large wind farms, as well as the power extracted by the wind turbines. In the simulations, tuning-free Lagrangian scale-dependent dynamic models [...] Read more.
Large-eddy simulation is used to study the influence of free-atmosphere stratification on the structure of atmospheric boundary-layer flow inside and above very large wind farms, as well as the power extracted by the wind turbines. In the simulations, tuning-free Lagrangian scale-dependent dynamic models are used to model the subgrid-scale turbulent fluxes, while the turbine-induced forces are parameterized with an actuator-disk model. It is shown that for a given surface cover (with and without turbines) thermal stratification of the free atmosphere reduces the entrainment from the flow above compared with the unstratified case, leading to lower boundary-layer depth. Due to the fact that in very large wind farms vertical energy transport associated with turbulence is the only source of kinetic energy, lower entrainment leads to lower power production by the wind turbines. In particular, for the wind-turbine arrangements considered in the present work, the power output from the wind farms is reduced by about 35% when the potential temperature lapse rate in the free atmosphere increases from 1 to 10 K/km (within the range of values typically observed in the atmosphere). Moreover, it is shown that the presence of the turbines has significant effect on the growth of the boundary layer. Inspired by the obtained results, a simple one-dimensional model is developed to account for the effect of free-atmosphere stability on the mean flow and the power output from very large wind farms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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717 KiB  
Article
Improved Control Strategy for DFIG Wind Turbines for Low Voltage Ride Through
by Zaijun Wu, Chanxia Zhu and Minqiang Hu
Energies 2013, 6(3), 1181-1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6031181 - 25 Feb 2013
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8700
Abstract
This paper presents an improved control strategy for both the rotor side converter (RSC) and grid side converter (GSC) of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbine (WT) system to enhance the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability. Within the proposed control [...] Read more.
This paper presents an improved control strategy for both the rotor side converter (RSC) and grid side converter (GSC) of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbine (WT) system to enhance the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability. Within the proposed control strategy, the RSC control introduces transient feed-forward compensation terms to mitigate the high frequency harmonic components and reduce the surge in the rotor currents. The proposed GSC control scheme also introduces a compensation term reflecting the instantaneous variation of the output power of the rotor side converter with consideration of the instantaneous power of grid filter impendence to keep the dc-link voltage nearly constant during the grid faults. To provide precise control, non-ideal proportional resonant (PR) controllers for both the RSC and GSC current regulation are employed to further improve dynamic performance. Simulations performed in Matlab/Simulink verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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Review

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864 KiB  
Review
Mitigation Techniques to Reduce the Impact of Wind Turbines on Radar Services
by David De la Vega, James C. G. Matthews, Lars Norin and Itziar Angulo
Energies 2013, 6(6), 2859-2873; https://doi.org/10.3390/en6062859 - 14 Jun 2013
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7493
Abstract
Radar services are occasionally affected by wind farms. This paper presents a comprehensive description of the effects that a wind farm may cause on the different radar services, and it compiles a review of the recent research results regarding the mitigation techniques to [...] Read more.
Radar services are occasionally affected by wind farms. This paper presents a comprehensive description of the effects that a wind farm may cause on the different radar services, and it compiles a review of the recent research results regarding the mitigation techniques to minimize this impact. Mitigation techniques to be applied at the wind farm and on the radar systems are described. The development of thorough impact studies before the wind farm is installed is presented as the best way to analyze in advance the potential for interference, and subsequently identify the possible solutions to allow the coexistence of wind farms and radar services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2013)
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