Trends in wind turbine components, loads and assessments
Backgroud:
Wind energy is growing fast. Many new wind turbines are installed all over the world with increasing dimensions, currently up to 126 meter rotor diameter and masses of several hundreds of tonnes. New components are required in the development of new wind turbine types and sizes. The Turbine Design service offered to customers by the product group Wind Energy of MECAL fulfils this demand, through design and analysis of wind turbine components.
MECAL Wind Turbine Design has a wide experience in the design, assessment and certification of wind turbine components. Some time ago load simulations and turbine controller design have been added to the list of services. In order to optimize the controller and to compare the resulting loads it is useful to know trends from comparative turbines. Using available data these trends can be determined for specific aspects. For example, is there a difference between loads of geared turbines and loads of direct drive turbines, or in what way can loads be extrapolated to determine loads for the larger turbines that are coming in the future. In a similar way trends can be determined for purposes of component and turbine design, e.g. reviewing masses and dimensions.
Purpose:
The aim of this project is to store available turbine data (geometry, loads, results, …) in a database. This database will be used to determine trends for future turbines and their components, check loads, get easy overview of past projects. Using this information we aim to further optimise component design as well as wind turbine loads, with improved methods. Ultimate goal is support our customers and their turbine in reducing the cost of energy.
Outline:
Work has already been performed to design a data structure for the data base. The required actions to be taken during the project are:
- Review the data type to be stored (geometrical, loads, materials, general, results…);
- Review of database structure (data fields, required couplings etc);
- Create and test database based on defined structure;
- Addition of available data to database;
- Determination of trends using database and evaluation;
- Definition of next steps and recommendations;
- Documentation.
Type of project:
Internship, bachelor level.
Coordinator / for more information on the subject:
Ing. E. Leijten, Chief Engineer, +31 (53) 4821 422, e.leijten@mecal.eu
Product group and location:
Wind Energy, Turbine Development, Enschede
To apply for the project:
Mr Dick van Haare, Recruitment, +31 (53) 4821 400, d.vanhaare@mecal.eu