Preliminary validation of ATOM: an aero-servo-elastic design tool for next generation wind turbines. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scott, S; Macquart, T; Rodriguez, C; Greaves, P; McKeever, P; Weaver, P; Pirrera, A
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 1222(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Physics -- Congresses; 530.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1222/1/012012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-6588

Abstract

Abstract: Upscaling wind turbines has resulted in levelised cost of energy (LCoE) reductions. However, larger turbine diameters pose significant design challenges, often with conflicting requirements. For example, non-linear dynamics of aeroelastic tailored blades must be accurately predicted whilst, for the sake of efficient gradient-based design, it is also desirable to simplify the numerical definition of such blades—keeping design variables (DVs) to a minimum. This work presents and validates two features of the ATOM code (Aeroelastic Turbine Optimisation Methods), developed at the University of Bristol, that enable accurate and efficient modelling of large-scale wind turbine blades. Both an efficient parameterisation method and high-order beam elements illustrate the capacity for increasing the speed of gradient evaluations whilst accurately predicting blade dynamics—either by reducing DVs or simulation time. As a preliminary validation, aero-servo-elastic simulations from ATOM and an industry-standard software—DNV GL Bladed—are compared against field measurements gathered from an existing 7 MW turbine.