Wind Turbine Loads Induced by Terrain and Wakes: An Experimental Study through Vibration Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Francesco Castellani, Marco Buzzoni, Davide Astolfi, Gianluca D’Elia, Giorgio Dalpiaz and Ludovico Terzi
Additional contact information
Francesco Castellani: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Marco Buzzoni: Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
Davide Astolfi: Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Gianluca D’Elia: Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
Giorgio Dalpiaz: Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
Ludovico Terzi: Renvico s.r.l., Via San Gregorio 34, 20124 Milano, Italy

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: A wind turbine is a very well-known archetype of energy conversion system working at non-stationary regimes. Despite this, a deep mechanical comprehension of wind turbines operating in complicated conditions is still challenging, especially as regards the analysis of experimental data. In particular, wind turbines in complex terrain represent a very valuable testing ground because of the possible combination of wake effects among nearby turbines and flow accelerations caused by the terrain morphology. For these reasons, in this work, a cluster of four full-scale wind turbines from a very complex site is studied. The object of investigation is vibrations, at the level of the structure (tower) and drive-train. Data collected by the on-board condition monitoring system are analyzed and interpreted in light of the knowledge of wind conditions and operating parameters collected by the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA). A free flow Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation is also performed, and it allows one to better interpret the vibration analysis. The main outcome is the interpretation of how wakes and flow turbulences appear in the vibration signals, both at the structural level and at the drive-train level. Therefore, this wind to gear approach builds a connection between flow phenomena and mechanical phenomena in the form of vibrations, representing a precious tool for assessing loads in different working conditions.

Keywords: wind energy; wind turbine; wakes; vibration analysis; supervisory control and data acquisition; condition monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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