Integrated Wind Turbine Design

The main research question, which is being addressed in this priority area is: How can the aero-elastic behaviour of wind turbines be described, explained and modelled in such a way that accurate structural behaviour predictions can be made during the design process?

The research priority area Integrated Wind Turbine Design of ECN Wind Energy and ECN-WMC aims at the improvement of the design process in industry by developing new, improved models, concepts and tools for the integrated system design.

ECN-Wind Energy is focussing on aero-elasticity, control and concept studies. ECN-WMC is dedicated to the development of the integrated design tool and the blade design module.

ECN Wind Energy and ECN-WMC have a strong international position in the field of integrated wind turbine design, especially in the field of integral design tools and control design tools. This position is further strengthened by its highly experienced experts, the intense contacts with industry and universities and the combination of theoretical and experimental research with the unique experimental test facilities (wind tunnels, scaled wind farm, full scale wind turbine and blade and component testing).

The research in the field of integrated design is organised in four areas:
Aero-elasticity: In the priority area Integrated Wind Turbine Design these rotor aerodynamic models will be coupled to structural dynamic models and the resulting aero-elastic models will be verified and validated against measurements.

Control: In the field of wind turbine control the target is to further deepen the knowledge on wind control aiming at an improvement of present control strategies and development of new control strategies to reduce mechanical loading on the structure and to increase the wind energy output.

Concepts & strategic explorations: In the research activity concepts & strategic explorations the target is to explore new promising concepts for wind turbine systems.

Electrical Systems and Components: Design and optimization of electrical systems in a wind turbine that is connected to the local wind farm grid; statically and dynamically.

Design Tools: The long term target of the research is to develop a user friendly integrated modular design tool that enables the integrated design of the next generation of large, cost effective, offshore wind turbines.