Analysis and test results for an improved constant speed passive cyclic pitch wind turbine: Final subcontract report

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6684319

Hohenemser, K H

This report describes research conducted at Washington University to address whether or not conventional blade-pitch control of wind turbines can be replaced by rotor yaw control. The test equipment consisted of a horizontal-axis wind turbine, mounted on a 60-ft tower, with an upwind, vane-controlled, passive-cyclic-pitch (PCP) rotor 25 ft in diameter. The automatic rotor-control system was passive. Some erratic yawing at low-speed, power-on operation was corrected with a larger-area tail vane and a longer tail boom. The turbine was tested at gusts of up to 60 mph. The power-off rotor speed was always kept fairly constant. The results would indicate smooth low-load storm survival. Generator cut-in and cut-out were achieved with a digital controller responding to rotor speed. Torque was found to peak at twice the value predicted by the conventional prop code. Overall, the PCP rotor continued to function very well, even at high yaw rates and wind velocities. However, the combination of the passive furl control system and a fast-reacting, wind-following tail vane caused some problems that could not be corrected at the time.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6684319
• Report Number(s): SERI/STR-217-3002; ON: DE87001135
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170602* -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Turbine Design & Operation
CONTROL
HORIZONTAL AXIS TURBINES
MACHINERY
ORIENTATION
POWER GENERATION
ROTORS
TESTING
TURBINE BLADES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WIND TURBINES