Showing papers on "Turbine published in 2005"

Ridethrough of wind turbines with doubly-fed induction generator during a voltage dip

Abstract: In this paper, a solution is described that makes it possible for wind turbines using doubly-fed induction generators to stay connected to the grid during grid faults. The key of the solution is to limit the high current in the rotor in order to protect the converter and to provide a bypass for this current via a set of resistors that are connected to the rotor windings. With these resistors, it is possible to ride through grid faults without disconnecting the turbine from the grid. Because the generator and converter stay connected, the synchronism of operation remains established during and after the fault and normal operation can be continued immediately after the fault has been cleared. An additional feature is that reactive power can be supplied to the grid during long dips in order to facilitate voltage restoration. A control strategy has been developed that takes care of the transition back to normal operation. Without special control action, large transients would occur.

A review of shaped hole turbine film-cooling technology

Abstract: Film cooling represents one of the few game-changing technologies that has allowed the achievement of today's high firing temperature, high-efficiency gas turbine engines. Over the last 30 years, only one major advancement has been realized in this technology, that being the incorporation of exit shaping to the film holes to result in lower momentum coolant injection jets with greater surface coverage. This review examines the origins of shaped film cooling and summarizes the extant literature knowledge concerning the performance of such film holes. A catalog of the current literature data is presented, showing the basic shaping geometries, parameter ranges, and types of data obtained. Specific discussions are provided for the flow field and aerodynamic losses of shaped film hole coolant injection. The major fundamental effects due to coolant-to-gas blowing ratio, compound angle injection, cooling hole entry flow character, and mainstream turbulence intensity are each reviewed with respect to the resulting adiabatic film effectiveness and heat transfer coefficients for shaped holes. A specific example of shaped film effectiveness is provided for a production turbine inlet vane with comparison to other data. Several recent unconventional forms of film hole shaping are also presented as a look to future potential improvements

Frequency control and wind turbine technologies

Abstract: Increasing levels of wind generation has resulted in an urgent need for the assessment of their impact on frequency control of power systems. Whereas increased system inertia is intrinsically linked to the addition of synchronous generation to power systems, due to differing electromechanical characteristics, this inherent link is not present in wind turbine generators. Regardless of wind turbine technology, the displacement of conventional generation with wind will result in increased rates of change of system frequency. The magnitude of the frequency excursion following a loss of generation may also increase. Amendment of reserve policies or modification of wind turbine inertial response characteristics may be necessary to facilitate increased levels of wind generation. This is particularly true in small isolated power systems.

AeroDyn Theory Manual

Abstract: AeroDyn is a set of routines used in conjunction with an aeroelastic simulation code to predict the aerodynamics of horizontal axis wind turbines. These subroutines provide several different models whose theoretical bases are described in this manual. AeroDyn contains two models for calculating the effect of wind turbine wakes: the blade element momentum theory and the generalized dynamic-wake theory. Blade element momentum theory is the classical standard used by many wind turbine designers and generalized dynamic wake theory is a more recent model useful for modeling skewed and unsteady wake dynamics. When using the blade element momentum theory, various corrections are available for the user, such as incorporating the aerodynamic effects of tip losses, hub losses, and skewed wakes. With the generalized dynamic wake, all of these effects are automatically included. Both of these methods are used to calculate the axial induced velocities from the wake in the rotor plane. The user also has the option of calculating the rotational induced velocity. In addition, AeroDyn contains an important model for dynamic stall based on the semi-empirical Beddoes-Leishman model. This model is particularly important for yawed wind turbines. Another aerodynamic model in AeroDyn is a tower shadow model based on potentialmore » flow around a cylinder and an expanding wake. Finally, AeroDyn has the ability to read several different formats of wind input, including single-point hub-height wind files or multiple-point turbulent winds.« less

Analysis, Modeling and Control of Doubly-Fed Induction Generators for Wind Turbines

Abstract: This thesis deals with the analysis, modeling, and control of the doubly-fed induction machine used as a wind turbine generator. The energy efficiency of wind turbine systems equipped with doubly-fed induction generators are compared to other wind turbine generator systems. Moreover, the current control of the doubly-fed induction generator is analyzed and finally the sensitivity of different current controllers with respect to grid disturbances are investigated. The energy efficiency of a variable-speed wind turbine system using a doubly-fed induction generator is approximately as for a fixed-speed wind turbine equipped with an induction generator. In comparison to a direct-driven permanent-magnet synchronous generator there might be a small gain in the energy efficiency, depending on the average wind-speed at the site. For a variable-speed wind turbine with an induction generator equipped with a full-power inverter, the energy efficiency can be a few percentage units smaller than for a system with a doubly-fed induction generator. The flux dynamics of the doubly-fed induction machine consist of two poorly damped poles which influence the current controller. These will cause oscillations, with a frequency close to the line frequency, in the flux and in the rotor currents. It has been found that by utilizing a suggested method combining feed-forward compensation and "active resistance," the low-frequency disturbances as well as the oscillations are suppressed better than the other methods evaluated. The maximum value of the rotor voltage will increase with the size of a voltage dip. This means that it is necessary to design the inverter so it can handle a desired value of a voltage dip. For the investigated systems the maximum rotor voltage and current, due to a voltage dip, can be reduced if the doubly-fed induction machine is magnetized from the stator circuit instead of the rotor circuit. Further, it has been found that the choice of current control method is of greater importance if the bandwidth of the current control loop is low.

Composite materials for wind power turbine blades

Abstract: Ke yW ords composites, properties, processing, damage, fatigue ■ Abstract Renewable energy resources, of which wind energy is prominent, are part of the solution to the global energy problem. Wind turbine and the rotorblade concepts are reviewed, and loadings by wind and gravity as important factors for the fatigue performance of the materials are considered. Wood and composites are discussed as candidates for rotorblades. The fibers and matrices for composites are described, and their high stiffness, low density, and good fatigue performance are em- phasized. Manufacturing technologies for composites are presented and evaluated with respect to advantages, problems, and industrial potential. The important technologies of today are prepreg (pre-impregnated) technology and resin infusion technology. The mechanical properties of fiber composite materials are discussed, with a focus on fa- tigue performance. Damage and materials degradation during fatigue are described. Testing procedures for documentation of properties are reviewed, and fatigue loading histories are discussed, together with methods for data handling and statistical analysis of (large) amounts of test data. Future challenges for materials in the field of wind turbines are presented, with a focus on thermoplastic composites, new structural ma- terials concepts, new structural design aspects, structural health monitoring, and the coming trends and markets for wind energy.

Using Hydrogen as Gas Turbine Fuel

Abstract: This paper addresses the possibility to burn hydrogen in a large size, heavy-duty gas turbine designed to run on natural gas as a possible short-term measure to reduce greenhouse emissions of the power industry. The process used to produce hydrogen is not discussed here: we mainly focus on the behavior of the gas turbine by analyzing the main operational aspects related to switching from natural gas to hydrogen. We will consider the effects of variations of volume flow rate and of thermophysical properties on the matching between turbine and compressor and on the blade cooling of the hot rows of the gas turbine. In the analysis we will take into account that those effects are largely emphasized by the abundant dilution of the fuel by inert gases (steam or nitrogen), necessary to control the NO x emissions. Three strategies will be considered to adapt the original machine, designed to run on natural gas, to operate properly with diluted hydrogen: variable guide vane (VGV) operations, increased pressure ratio, re-engineered machine. The performance analysis, carried out by a calculation method including a detailed model of the cooled gas turbine expansion, shows that moderate efficiency decays can be predicted with elevated dilution rates (nitrogen is preferable to steam under this point of view). The combined cycle power output substantially increases if not controlled by VGV operations. It represents an opportunity if some moderate re-design is accepted (turbine blade height modifications or high-pressure compressor stages addition).

TurbSim User's Guide

Abstract: The TurbSim stochastic inflow turbulence code was developed to provide a numerical simulation of a full-field flow that contains coherent turbulence structures that reflect the proper spatiotemporal turbulent velocity field relationships seen in instabilities associated with nocturnal boundary layer flows that are not represented well by the IEC Normal Turbulence Models (NTM). Its purpose is to provide the wind turbine designer with the ability to drive design code (FAST or MSC.ADAMS) simulations of advanced turbine designs with simulated inflow turbulence environments that incorporate many of the important fluid dynamic features known to adversely affect turbine aeroelastic response and loading.

Wind energy conversion system

Abstract: A wind energy conversion system includes upper and lower wind turbines having counter-rotating blade assemblies supported for rotation about a vertical rotation axis, with each blade assembly carrying a rotor for rotation past a stator to produce an electrical output. The wind turbines are supported by a tower at an elevated position above the ground. Each wind turbine produces torque, and the wind energy conversion system provides for balancing the torques to avoid a net torque on the tower. Adjustment mechanisms are provided for adjusting blade pitch and for adjusting the size of an air gap between a stator and a rotor that comes into alignment with the stator as the rotor rotates therepast. The wind energy conversion system provides a hood for supplying intake air to a wind turbine and an exhaust plenum for exhausting air from the wind turbine, with the hood and the exhaust plenum being directionally positionable.

Control of a switched reluctance generator for variable-speed wind energy applications

Abstract: This paper presents a novel control system for the operation of a switched reluctance generator (SRG) driven by a variable speed wind turbine. The SRG is controlled to drive a wind energy conversion system (WECS) to the point of maximum aerodynamic efficiency using closed loop control of the power output. In the medium and low speed range, the SRG phase current is regulated using pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) control of the magnetizing voltage. For high speeds the generator is controlled using a single pulse mode. In order to interface the SRG to the grid (or ac load) a voltage-source PWM inverter is used. A 2.5-kW experimental prototype has been constructed. Wind turbine characteristics are emulated using a cage induction machine drive. The performance of the system has been tested over the whole speed range using wind profiles and power impacts. Experimental results are presented confirming the system performance.

Flicker study on variable speed wind turbines with doubly fed induction generators

Abstract: Grid connected wind turbines may produce flicker during continuous operation. This paper presents a simulation model of a MW-level variable speed wind turbine with a doubly fed induction generator developed in the simulation tool of PSCAD/EMTDC. Flicker emission of variable speed wind turbines with doubly fed induction generators is investigated during continuous operation, and the dependence of flicker emission on mean wind speed, wind turbulence intensity, short circuit capacity of grid and grid impedance angle are analyzed. A comparison is done with the fixed speed wind turbine, which leads to a conclusion that the factors mentioned above have different influences on flicker emission compared with that in the case of the fixed speed wind turbine. Flicker mitigation is realized by output reactive power control of the variable speed wind turbine with doubly fed induction generator. Simulation results show the wind turbine output reactive power control provides an effective means for flicker mitigation regardless of mean wind speed, turbulence intensity and short circuit capacity ratio.

Methods and apparatus for operating gas turbine engines

Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine (10), including a first compressor (14), a second compressor (16), and a turbine (20), coupled together in serial flow arrangement. The method includes channeling compressed airflow (53) discharged from the first compressor through an intercooler (50) having a cooling medium flowing therethrough, operating the intercooler such that condensate is formed in the intercooler from the compressed airflow, and channeling the condensate to an inlet (26,30) of the first or second compressor to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of the gas turbine engine.

System and method for operating a wind farm under high wind speed conditions

Abstract: A system and method of operating a wind farm (12), having multiple wind turbine generators (14, 16, 18), at high wind speeds is provided. Wind speeds at individual wind turbine generators (14, 16, 18) are monitored and a signal is transmitted from the wind turbine generators (14, 16, 18) to a wind farm control system (50) based on the monitored wind speeds. Rate of change of collective power output of the wind farm (12) is temporally monitored and is controlled by coordinating of operational states of the wind turbine generators (14, 16, 18) based upon the signals transmitted by the one or more wind turbine generators (14, 16, 18), operating conditions of the wind turbine generators (14, 16, 18) and the monitored rate of change of power output of the wind farm (12).

Variable speed distributed drive train wind turbine system

Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor (103) connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators (106 - 112) with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier (114 - 120) and an inverter (136 - 142) are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) (132) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system (102). A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.

Modeling and experimental verification of grid interaction of a DFIG wind turbine

Abstract: The response of the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine system to grid disturbances is simulated and verified experimentally. The results are compared to the response that a fixed-speed wind turbine would have given. A voltage sag to 80% (80% remaining voltage) is handled very well, which is not the case for a fixed-speed wind turbine. A second-order model for prediction of the response of DFIG wind turbines is derived, and its simulated performance is successfully verified experimentally. The power quality impact by the DFIG wind turbine system is measured and evaluated. Steady-state impact, such as flicker emission, reactive power, and harmonic emission, is measured and analyzed. It is found that the flicker emission is very low, the reactive power is close to zero in the whole operating range, and the current THD is always lower than 5%.

Methods and apparatus for reducing gas turbine engine emissions

Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the backside of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.

Transient stability of DFIG wind turbines at an external short‐circuit fault

Abstract: The fast development of wind power generation brings new requirements for wind turbine integration into the network. After clearance of an external short-circuit fault, grid-connected wind turbines should restore their normal operation without power loss caused by disconnections. This article concentrates on the transient stability of variable speed wind turbines with doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) at an external short-circuit fault. A simulation model of a MW-level variable speed wind turbine with a DFIG developed in PSCAD/EMTDC is presented and the control and protection schemes are described in detail. The transient process of grid-connected wind turbines with DFIGs at an external short-circuit fault is analysed, and in critical post-fault situations a measure is proposed for the voltage recovery of DFIG wind turbines after fault clearance. Simulation results demonstrate that in uncritical post-fault situations the control schemes are able to restore the wind turbine's normal operation without disconnections. It is also proved that the proposed measure is effective in re-establishing the voltage at the wind turbine terminal in critical post-fault situations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Wind Turbine Post-Stall Airfoil Performance Characteristics Guidelines for Blade-Element Momentum Methods: Preprint

Abstract: The objective of this study was to provide post-stall airfoil data input guidelines for the prediction of peak and post-peak rotor power when using blade-element momentum theory. A steady-state data set from the Unsteady Aerodynamic Experiment (UAE) rotor test was used to provide guidelines for the development of a global post-stall method for the prediction of post-stall 3-D airfoil characteristics to be used with 2-D airfoil data. Based on these UAE data, methods to emulate the 3-D aerodynamics in the post-stall region were explored. Also suggested are experimental tests needed to better understand the 3-D flow physics and to quantify needed theory or empirical factors for a global post-stall approach to support blade-element momentum methods.

High-speed microfabricated silicon turbomachinery and fluid film bearings

Abstract: A single-crystal silicon micromachined air turbine supported on gas-lubricated bearings has been operated in a controlled and sustained manner at rotational speeds greater than 1 million revolutions per minute, with mechanical power levels approaching 5 W. The device is formed from a fusion bonded stack of five silicon wafers individually patterned on both sides using deep reactive ion etching (DRIE). It consists of a single stage radial inflow turbine on a 4.2-mm diameter rotor that is supported on externally pressurized hydrostatic journal and thrust bearings. This work presents the design, fabrication, and testing of the first microfabricated rotors to operate at circumferential tip speeds up to 300 m/s, on the order of conventional high performance turbomachinery. Successful operation of this device motivates the use of silicon micromachined high-speed rotating machinery for power microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications such as portable energy conversion, micropropulsion, and microfluidic pumping and cooling.

Direct drive wind turbine

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.

Simple wind energy controller for an expanded operating range

Abstract: Small-scale stand-alone wind energy systems are an important alternative source of electrical energy, finding applications in locations where conventional generation is not practical Unfortunately, most of these systems do not capture power at every wind speed-especially low wind speeds which are low in power but can be very common To address this problem, the authors have proposed a power electronic converter, designed for efficiency, simplicity and ruggedness A simple feed forward technique is presented using discrete components and minimal sensors Test data are presented, indicating that the technique eliminates the standard "cut-in" wind speed and expands the operating range of a wind turbine