Multidisciplinary design optimization of offshore wind turbines for minimum levelized cost of energy

T. Ashuri, M.B. Zaaijer, J.R.R.A. Martins, G.J.W. van Bussel and G.A.M. van Kuik

Renewable Energy, 2014, vol. 68, issue C, 893-905

Abstract: This paper presents a method for multidisciplinary design optimization of offshore wind turbines at system level. The formulation and implementation that enable the integrated aerodynamic and structural design of the rotor and tower simultaneously are detailed. The objective function to be minimized is the levelized cost of energy. The model includes various design constraints: stresses, deflections, modal frequencies and fatigue limits along different stations of the blade and tower. The rotor design variables are: chord and twist distribution, blade length, rated rotational speed and structural thicknesses along the span. The tower design variables are: tower thickness and diameter distribution, as well as the tower height. For the other wind turbine components, a representative mass model is used to include their dynamic interactions in the system. To calculate the system costs, representative cost models of a wind turbine located in an offshore wind farm are used. To show the potential of the method and to verify its usefulness, the 5 MW NREL wind turbine is used as a case study. The result of the design optimization process shows 2.3% decrease in the levelized cost of energy for a representative Dutch site, while satisfying all the design constraints.

Keywords: Offshore wind turbine; Multidisciplinary design optimization; Aeroelasticity; Rotor design; Tower design; Levelized cost of energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:68:y:2014:i:c:p:893-905

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.02.045

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