Aero-Structural Design For a 3.4 MW Wind Turbine Using Plasma Actuator Based Load Control

Abstract

The last few decades have seen a significant growth in wind turbine size and capacity. Due to larger rotors, blades experience higher loads and larger load fluctuations due to wind shear and turbulence. Reducing these extreme and fatigue loads of blades is correlated with an increase in turbine lifetime and decrease in Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). An attractive solution to these issues is the use of Active Flow Control (AFC) devices like plasma actuators near blade trailing edges, which can modulate sectional lift co-efficient to mitigate loads and control aero-elastic response of wind turbines. In this paper, we present a study of the design space of aero-structural performance of wind turbines with such active flow control devices. We evaluate new aerodynamic designs and structural designs, which will give us a more aerodynamically and structurally efficient blade. Aerodynamic design is performed using Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory and the structural design is done using a semi-automated tool called AutoNuMAD.

Mayank Chetan

Wind Energy Researcher

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