Summary of NASA/DOE aileron-control development program for wind turbines
This paper will briefly trace the development of aileron-control for wind turbines. Then selected wind tunnel test results and full-scale rotor test results will be presented for various types of ailerons. Finally, the current status of aileron-control development will be discussed. Aileron-control was considered as a method of rotor control for use on wind turbines based on its potential to reduce rotor weight and cost. Following an initial feasibility study, a 20 percent chord aileron-control rotor was fabricated and tested on the NASA/DOE Mod-0 experimental wind turbine. Results from these tests indicated that the 20 percent chord ailerons regulated power and provided overspeed protection, but only over a very limited windspeed range. The next aileron-control rotor to be tested on the Mod-0 had 38 percent chord ailerons and test results showed these ailerons provided overspeed protection and power regulation over the Mod-0's entire operational windspeed range.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI01-76ET20320
- OSTI ID:
- 5152946
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NASA/20320-71; NASA-TM-88811; CONF-860201-4-Summ.; ON: DE86015961
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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