10/7/2016 Introduction to Quiz: Wind turbine rotor speed control strategy | Coursera

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Introduction to Quiz: Wind turbine rotor speed control strategy

This document contains all the information you need to solve the quiz called 'Wind
turbine rotor speed control strategy'. Please calculate your answers to the questions at
the bottom of this page. You will then be prepared to start the quiz.

We recommend using a calculation tool such as a spread sheet or a computer

programming tool to solve the exercise.

You can download this document in PDF format:

Introduction to Quiz_ Wind turbine rotor speed control strategy _ Coursera.pdf

Leaning Objectives

When you have completed this exercise, you will be able to apply a strategy for
controlling the rotor speed of a variable speed wind turbine.

Description

The strategy for controlling the rotor speed of a variable speed wind turbine is to aim at
the relation shown in the 䁀gure below between the rotational speed of the generator
and the generator power. Actually, the wind turbine controller uses such a curve as a
lookup table to determine the generator speed reference depending on the generator
power.

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The curve divides the wind turbine control strategy into 3 operation ranges:

1. The line A­B ensures that the minimum generator rotational speed is kept at ωmin  .

2. The curve B­C is defined so that the wind turbine controller tracks the maximum
possible power in this operation range

3. The line C­D ensures that the wind turbine rotational speed is limited, which is done by
limiting the generator rotational speed to ωmax .

Recall from the video ‘Control of wind turbines and wind power plants’ that the power
production, P is given by:

1 3
P = ρAU Cp (1)
2

where ρ is the air density, A the swept area, U is wind speed, and Cp is the power
coe䁀cient.

The rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor, ωW T Rmin is given by:

ωmin
ωW T Rmin = (2)
GR

where ωmin is the minimum generator rotational speed and GR is the gear ratio.

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The maximum rotational speed ωmax of the generator is given by:

vtip
ωmax = ⋅ GR (3)
r

where vtip is the tip speed given by:

vtip = ωr (4)

The tip speed ratio, λ is the ratio of the tip speed to the wind speed:

ωr
λ = (5)
U

The q3 , q5 , q7 , q9 are unknowns.

Variables Values

ωmin  (minimum rotational speed) 900rpm

GR  (gear ratio) 108

CP max  (maximum power coefficient) 0.42

r  (rotor radius) 40m

ρ  (air density) 1.225kg/m
3

λ  (tip speed ratio) 8.8

vtip(max) 70m/s

Questions

Please use the information given above to complete the following tasks. Write down
your answers as you go. You will need them when you answer the quiz.

1. The minimum rotational speed of the generator is 900rpm (rotations per minute) in the
operation range A­B. What is the value of ωmin  in rad/s?

2. The wind turbine has a gearbox between the wind turbine rotor and the generator to
ensure that the generator rotates faster than the wind turbine rotor. The gear ratio, GR
of the wind turbine in this exercise is 108. What is the rotational speed of the wind
turbine rotor ωW T Rmin  in operation range A­B (rad/s)?

3. The maximum power coefficient of the wind turbine, Cp  is 0.42, and the rotor radius is
40 m. The air density is assumed to be 1.225 kg/m3 , and the losses are neglected.

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How does the maximum possible power Pmax then depend on the wind speed U  in the
operation range B­C? One of the formulas below is correct:

P max = q 3 ⋅ U (1)

2
P max = q 3 ⋅ U (2)

3
P max = q 3 ⋅ U (3)

4
P max = q 3 ⋅ U (4)

4. In the formula Pmax  what is the value of q3  (kg/m)? Hint: Use equation 1).

?
= q3 ⋅ U

5. The maximum power coefficient is obtained with the tip speed ratio λopt = 8.8. What is
the relation between rotational speed ωW T R  and wind speed U in the operation range
B­C? One of the formulas below is correct:

U = q 5 ⋅ ωW T R (1)

2
U = q5 ⋅ ω (2)
WTR

3
U = q5 ⋅ ω (3)
WTR

4
U = q5 ⋅ ω (4)
WTR

6. In the formula U = q 5 ⋅ ωW T R
?
, what is the value of q5  ? (answer in m)

7. The maximum power coefficient is obtained with the tip speed ratio 8.8. How does the
maximum possible power Pmax depend on the wind turbine rotor speed ωW T R  in the
operation range B­C? One of the formulas below is correct:

P max = q 7 ⋅ ωW T R (1)

2
P max = q 7 ⋅ ω (2)
WTR

3
P max = q 7 ⋅ ω (3)
WTR

4
P max = q 7 ⋅ ω (4)
WTR

8. In the formula Pmax = q 7 ⋅ ωW T R
?
 what is the value of q7  (kg m2 )? Hint: Use equation
1) and 5).

9. How does the maximum possible power Pmax depend on the generator rotor speed 
ωgen  in the operation range B­C? One of the formulas below is correct:

P max = q 9 ⋅ ωgen (1)

2
P max = q 9 ⋅ ωgen (2)

3
P max = q 9 ⋅ ωgen (3)

4
P max = q 9 ⋅ ωgen (4)

10. In the formula Pmax = q 9 ⋅ ωgen
?
 what is the value of q9  (kg m2 )? Hint: Use equation 1)
and 2).

11. The maximum tip speed of the wind turbine blades is 70 m/s. What is the maximum
rotational speed ωmax  of the generator (rad/s)? Hint: Use equation 3).

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12. At which speed (m/s) is maximum power point tracking not possible anymore because
tip speed is limited to 70 m/s (corresponding to point C)? Hint: Divide ωmax  with the
gear ratio, GR to get ωW T Rmax . Then multiply with q5  found above.

Summary

The main learning points of this exercise were:

The maximum aerodynamic power production from a wind turbine is obtained when the
rotational speed ω follows the changes in wind speed U  so that the maximum power
coefficient Cpmax  is obtained. It is the task of the wind turbine controller to ensure that
the rotational speed follows the wind speed changes keeping the maximum power
coefficient.

The rotational speed ω is limited downwards (because of the generator) and upwards
(because of the mechanical exposure on the wind turbine, noise emission and other
constraints). The wind turbine controller must ensure that those limits are not exceeded
although this will reduce the electricity production.

 Complete

  

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