Design and Testing of a Scaled Demonstrator Turbine at the National Wind Technology Center

Abstract

This paper discusses the design, manufacturing, and planned testing of a scaled demonstrator turbine as part of the Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor (SUMR) project funded by the Advanced Project Research Agency-Energy. The scaled demonstrator (SUMR-D) is a gravo-aeroelastically scaled version of a downwind, 13.2-MW SUMR design. This scaled rotor will be tested on the two-bladed Controls Advanced Research Turbine (CART2) at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) to verify the scaling methodology, and validate the aeroelastic modeling and control scheme. The design was done in an iterative fashion among six teams focused on aerodynamics, structures, and controls. This process included extensive load analysis, modification for manufacturability, adaptations required for testing on the CART2, and ground-based proof loading. The details of this process are presented here, concluding with planned testing and performance expectations.

Mayank Chetan

Wind Energy Researcher

Current research interests include wind turbine structures, aero-elasticity and loads analysis.