Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.9.4 Conclusion
Fourier.analysis.helps.researchers.investigate.behavior.of.glass/carbon.tur-
bine.blades.
5.10
SimulatingDynamics,Durability,and
NoiseEmissionofWindTurbines
5.10.1 Introduction
In.many.countries,.governments.increase.the.share.of.renewable.power.gen-
eration.through.ecologic.targets.and.resolute.choices.for.“green”.energy.that.
is. clean,. indigenous,. and. inexhaustible.. Wind. energy. is. predicted. to. meet.
approximately. 25. percent. of. Europe's. power. demand. in. the. year. 2030. and.
wind.turbine.markets.are.also.growing.fast.in.the.United.States.and.in.Asia.
The.drive.train.forms.the.very.heart.of.a.wind.turbine..The.wind.power.is.
converted.via.the.blades.into.mechanical.power.on.a.slow-speed.shaft..This.
power.is.scaled.via.a.very.large.gearbox.to.a.high-speed.shaft.and,.inally,.
transformed.via.a.generator.into.electrical.power..The.wind.turbine.control.
system.together.with.the.power.converter.guarantees.a.clean.and.steady.out-
put.voltage.at.constant.frequency,.irrespective.of.varying.wind.conditions.
5.10.2
Engineering Challenges
To.obtain.certiication.for.a.wind.turbine,.manufacturers.have.to.ensure.full.
system.reliability.under.real-life.operating.conditions..Noise.emissions.must.
remain.within.prescribed.tolerances..Moreover,.durability.must.be.assessed.
to. provide. a. 20-year. lifetime. with. small. operation. and. maintenance. costs..
Overcoming. these. challenges. involves. extensive. engineering. efforts. from.
the. initial. concept. designs. up. until. the. inal. wind. turbine. validation. and.
certiication..Since.extensive.tests.on.full-scale.wind.turbines.are.extremely.
expensive. and. often. dangerous. to. conduct,. manufacturers. heavily. rely. on.
simulation.throughout.the.development.process.
To.optimize.the.design.of.the.gearbox,.manufacturers.make.use.of.simu-
lation.tools.to.predict.the.torques.that.the.different.shafts.need.to.transmit.
along.the.drive.train.from.the.blades.to.the.generator..This.can.be.done.using.
simpliied. codes,. which. only. account. for. one. torsional. degree-of-freedom..
However,.detailed.3D,.multibody.simulation.allows.for.more.in-depth.stud-
ies,. capturing. the. dynamic. behavior. of. the. overall. system. and. its. compo-
nents..For.example,.the.engineering.of.bearings.and.gear.contacts.provides.
a.true.challenge.to.gearbox.manufacturers.and.clearly.illustrates.the.advan-
tages.of.3D.multibody.simulations..Bearings.have.to.endure.very.high.loads.
and,.therefore,.are.critical.in.the.reliability.of.the.complete.system..In-service.
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