Independent research and development progress in large-scale wind turbine blade with coordinated aerodynamics,structure, and load

Abstract According to the three key elements in blade design process, i.e., aerodynamic design, structure design, and load prediction, the independent research and development (R&D) progress of blade design is summarized and analyzed. The calculational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, the vortex method, and the blade element momentum method (BEM) are described. Based on the widely used BEM method, the solutions for the blade design in low-speed wind area are obtained. A brief overview of the traditional design and analysis methods based on beam models is given. The defects of these methods used for simulating the structure of large-scale composite blade are analyzed. The application progress of the finite element method (FEM) used in the blade structure analysis is shown. The effects of load prediction on the blades and entire wind turbine are introduced. The progress in load forecasting is described. With the analysis of the relationship among these three key elements, it is concluded that developing a blade optimization design system with coordinated aerodynamics, structure, and load will truly meet the requirement of high efficiency and low cost. The main directions for further study are pointed out, e.g., high efficiency and low load airfoils, structural nonlinear finite element analysis, aerodynamic structure coupling research, and establishing different design standards. The aim is to establish a blade R&D system suitable for the conditions of wind resources in China and promote the development of wind power in the country.     

Criterion of aerodynamic performance of large-scale offshore horizontal axis wind turbines

With the background of offshore wind energy projects, this paper studies aerodynamic performance and geometric characteristics of large capacity wind turbine rotors （1 to 10 MW）, and the main characteristic parameters such as the rated wind speed, blade tip speed, and rotor solidity. We show that the essential criterion of a high- performance wind turbine is a highest possible annual usable energy pattern factor and a smallest possible dimension, capturing the maximum wind energy and producing the maximum annual power. The influence of the above-mentioned three parameters on the pattern factor and rotor geometry of wind turbine operated in China＇s offshore meteoro- logical environment is investigated. The variation patterns of aerodynamic and geometric parameters are obtained, analyzed, and compared with each other. The present method for aerodynamic analysis and its results can form a basis for evaluating aerodynamic performance of large-scale offshore wind turbine rotors.     

涡轮冷却叶片气动与传热设计优化

提出了航空发动机涡轮冷却叶片叶栅气动与传热自动优化方法,利用函数解析成型方法实现了冷却叶片几何模型的参数化与自动生成,可以建立任意冷却内腔数量的叶片模型;基于N-S方程实现叶片流体域与固体域的流-热耦合分析;采用KS函数方法将多目标优化问题转化为单目标函数进行优化,以总压损失、叶片最高温度和平均温度最小为优化目标进行了自动优化,改善了叶片性能。     

Status of large scale wind turbine technology development abroad

To facilitate the large scale (multi-megawatt) wind turbine development in China, the foreign efforts and achievements in the area are reviewed and summarized. Not only the popular horizontal axis wind turbines on-land but also the offshore wind turbines, vertical axis wind turbines, airborne wind turbines, and shroud wind turbines are discussed. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive comment and assessment about the basic work principle, economic aspects, and environmental impacts of turbines.     

Progress in wind tunnel experimental techniques for wind turbine

Based on the unsteady aerodynamics experiment (UAE) phase VI and the model experiment in controlled conditions (MEXICO) projects and the related research carried out in China Aerodynamic Research and Development Center (CARDC), the recent progress in the wind tunnel experimental techniques for the wind turbine is summarized. Measurement techniques commonly used for different types of wind tunnel experiments for wind turbine are reviewed. Important research achievements are discussed, such as the wind tunnel disturbance, the equivalence of the airfoil inflow condition, the three-dimensional (3D) effect, the dynamic inflow influence, the flow field structure, and the vortex induction. The corresponding research at CARDC and some ideas on the large wind turbine are also introduced.     

Two-dimensional integral equation for a thin wind turbine blade rotating in the round tunnel

The paper presents a mathematical treatment of the aerodynamic problem about a thin wind turbine blade rotating in the round tunnel. The radius of the blade is almost the radius of the tunnel. This permits formulation of the boundary condition on the tip vortex line to the simple slip condition over the surface of the tunnel. By applying a standard technique from potential theory, the problem is reduced to a two-dimensional integral equation whose kernel is connected with a special Green's function satisfying the homogeneous Neumann boundary condition on the tunnel surface. This Green's function is constructed in an explicit analytical form.     

大于切出风速的大型风力机运行控制策略研究

运用非定常叶素动量(BEM)理论计算气动载荷,叠加重力载荷和惯性载荷,建立并数值求解全机动力学模型。基于快速非支配排序遗传算法(NSGA),在切出风速以上,优化得到变速变桨和定速变桨两种控制规律曲线,实现大型风力机在25m/s~40m/s风速之间正常运行的目的。比较两种控制策略的输出功率、风轮推力和转矩,得出变速变桨控制策略更适合于25m/s~40m/s之间风力机运行控制的结论。计算稳态工况时8种叶根载荷的极限值,由各载荷的变化趋势可知,Fy在25m/s之后增大9%,其他载荷均安全。     

Videometric research on deformation measurement of large-scale wind turbine blades

Utilization of wind energy is a promising way to generate power, and wind turbine blades play a key role in collecting the wind energy effectively. This paper attempts to measure the deformation parameter of wind turbine blades in mechanics experiments using a videometric method. In view that the blades experience small buckling deformation and large integral deformation simultaneously, we proposed a parallel network measurement (PNM) method including the key techniques such as camera network construction, camera calibration, distortion correction, the semi-automatic high-precision extraction of targets, coordinate systems unification, and bundle adjustment, etc. The relatively convenient construction method of the measuring system can provide an abundant measuring content, a wide measuring range and post processing. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the integral deformation measurement is higher than 0.5 mm and that of the buckling deformation measurement higher than 0.1 mm.     

浮式海上风力机叶片气动性能的流固耦合分析

随着深水浮式海上风电场在世界范围内的兴起,浮式平台运动性能对风力机稳定运行及叶片气动载荷影响的研究具有重要意义。基于三维粘性不可压缩Navier-Stokes方程和适用于旋转流场分析的重整化群k-ε（RNG）湍流模型,数值模拟美国可再生能源实验室（NREL）5MW海上风力机的气动性能,并将数值模拟结果与NREL的设计参考数据进行对比分析,较好地验证了该数值模拟方法的有效性。进一步利用滑移网格技术模拟风力机叶片随浮式平台的典型周期性运动,实现浮式风力机叶片与周围流场的复杂非线性流固耦合分析,分别研究浮式平台不同运动幅值和运动周期对风力机叶片气动性能的影响规律,并从物理机理角度进行阐明分析。本文的主要研究成果,将对未来大型深水浮式海上风力机的气动性能分析及浮式平台系统的运动性能设计起到积极的指导作用。     

基于子集模拟法的风机叶片可靠度分析

风机叶片是风机机组中最重要的组件之一,其可靠性对整个发电系统的健康运行十分关键。传统的蒙特卡罗法可靠度计算效率较低,本文将子集模拟法应用到风机叶片的可靠度计算中,通过合理选取中间失效事件临界值和建议概率密度函数,采用Metropolis算法模拟产生一系列的样本,极大地提高了抽样效率。结果表明,子集模拟法在风机叶片可靠度计算中精度较高,且结构的失效概率越小,相比于传统蒙特卡罗法效率更高,可以极大地减轻计算压力。     

Design and verification of airfoil families for large-size wind turbine blades

For the design of wind turbine blades, the use of a family of specially tailored airfoils is particularly important. The dedicated airfoils can dramatically improve the capability of capturing wind power, reduce the structural weight to save the cost of manufacturing and transportation, and lower the inertial loads as well as the loads due to gust. An overview of the world-wide wind turbine airfoil families developed since 1990's is presented, such as the S series, the DU series, the Risø series, and the FFA series. The design and wind-tunnel tests of the Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) airfoil family for megawatt-size wind turbines, called the NPU-WA series, are summarized. All tests for the NPU-WA series are carried out in the NF-3 low-speed wind-tunnel with a two-dimensional (2D) test section of 1.6m×0.8m and at the Reynolds number ranging from 1.6×10⁶ to 5×10⁶. The research activities for further improving the NPU-WA airfoils towards lower roughness sensitivity are also reviewed. The development of the new NPUWA series dedicated for multi-megawatt wind turbines is discussed.     

Optimum design of composite laminates

A new procedure for the optimum layup design of composite laminates is described in this paper. In this method the global optimum search and local relaxing constraints are adequately combined together. The design variables are divided and applied in separate processes. A 16-node hybrid semi-Loof element model is used in the global structure analysis. The iterative complex method is adopted in the optimization. The method is suitable for the minimum weight design of a laminate subjected to the strength and stiffness constraints under multiple loading. The numerical results demonstrate the high efficiency and reliability of the present method.The project was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Investigation of horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade threedimensional rotational effect based on field experiments

Field experiments are performed on a two-bladed 33 kW horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). The pressures are measured with 191 pressure sensors positioned around the surfaces of seven spanwise section airfoils on one of the two blades. Three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulations are performed, respectively, on the rotor and the seven airfoils of the blade. The results are compared with the experimental results of the pressure distribution on the seven airfoils and the lift coefficients. The 3D rotational effect on the blade aerodynamic characteristics is then studied with a numerical approach. Finally, some conclusions are drawn as follows. From the tip to the root of the blade, the experimental differential pressure of the blade section airfoil increases at first and then decreases gradually. The calculated 3D result of the pressure distribution on the blade surface is closer to that of the experiment than the 2D result. The 3D rotational effect has a significant impact on the blade surface flow and the aerodynamic load, leading to an increase of the differential pressure on the airfoils and their lift coefficient than that with the 2D one because of the stall delay. The influence of the 3D rotational effect on the wind turbine blade especially takes place on the sections with flow separation.     

Aeroelastic analysis of large horizontal wind turbine baldes

A nonlinear aeroelastic analysis method for large horizontal wind turbines is described. A vortex wake method and a nonlinear finite element method (FEM) are coupled in the approach. The vortex wake method is used to predict wind turbine aerodynamic loads of a wind turbine, and a three-dimensional (3D) shell model is built for the rotor. Average aerodynamic forces along the azimuth are applied to the structural model, and the nonlinear static aeroelastic behaviors are computed. The wind rotor modes are obtained at the static aeroelastic status by linearizing the coupled equations. The static aeroelastic performance and dynamic aeroelastic responses are calculated for the NH1500 wind turbine. The results show that structural geometrical nonlinearities significantly reduce displacements and vibration amplitudes of the wind turbine blades. Therefore, structural geometrical nonlinearities cannot be neglected both in the static aeroelastic analysis and dynamic aeroelastic analysis.     

涡轮叶片持久寿命预测中气膜冷却孔的影响

从涡轮叶片典型部位取材并设计加工试件,进行持久寿命试验.通过观察比较试验结果,发现相同名义应力下气膜冷却孔将使试件的持久寿命大为降低.为了验证这一结论,采用有限元数值模拟的方法对该试件的持久拉伸过程进行模拟,同时考虑材料的正交各向异性以及高温条件下的蠕变规律,求得应力集中最大节点的应力值,进而算出其持久寿命,并与标准试件进行比较.     

复杂工况下的大型风力机气动性能和尾迹研究Investigation of aerodynamic performance and wake of the large scale wind turbine in complicated conditions

在复杂工况下,大型风力机非定常特性会更严重,导致风力机气动性能变化和尾迹预测更加复杂。本文主要针对稳态偏航、动态偏航、风剪切和随机风速场等复杂工况,基于自由涡尾迹方法,嵌入复杂工况的模块,加入了动态失速模型和三维旋转效应模型修正,实现了复杂工况数值模拟计算,比较了不同复杂工况的气动载荷和尾迹形状。最后,得出了风力机在复杂工况下的气动性能、载荷和尾迹叶尖涡线特性,并计算出风力机在复杂工况下的气动载荷超调量和迟滞时间。对推进自由涡尾迹方法应用于风力机工程的大批工况载荷计算,提高大型风力机的载荷计算精度和设计水平等具有重要意义。     

Effects of the particle Stokes number on wind turbine airfoil erosion

Under natural conditions, wind turbines are inevitably eroded by the action of sand-wind flow. To further investigate the effects of dust drift on the erosion of the wind turbine blades in sand-wind environments, the effects of the wind velocity, particle diameter, and particle density on the erosion of wind turbine airfoils are studied, and the effects of the particle Stokes number on the airfoil erosion are discussed. The results show that, when the angle of attack(AOA) is 6.1°, there will be no erosion on the airfoil surface if the particle Stokes number is lower than 0.013 5, whereas erosion will occur if the particle Stokes number is higher than 0.015 1. Therefore, there exists a critical range for the particle Stokes number. When the particle Stokes number is higher than the maximum value in the critical range, airfoil erosion will occur. The result is further confirmed by changing the particle diameter, particle density, and inflow speed. It is shown that the erosion area on the airfoil and the maximum erosion rate are almost equal under the same particle Stokes number and AOA. The extent of airfoil erosion increases when the particle Stokes number increases, and the critical particle Stokes number increases when the AOA increases. Moreover, the geometric shape of the airfoil pressure surface greatly affects the airfoil erosion, especially at the curvature near the leading edge.     

近海风机叶片模态局部化产生机理及定量分析研究

在摄动理论的基础上,结合失谐度、模态密集度以及模态置信准则对模态局部化的产生机理做了定量描述,并用26自由度弹簧质点结构验证了其可行性。其次,用ANSYS建立了风机叶片模型,并通过改变材料的密度和弹性模量模拟了四种失谐情况,发现风机叶片刚度和质量的小量失谐也会对其模态振型产生显著的影响,同时通过定义新的模态局部因子来定量描述风机叶片结构的模态局部化程度。最后,对风机叶片失谐振型中谐调振型的成分进行了分析,研究表明,其成分越复杂,模态局部化程度也越强。