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Title: Dynamic blade loading in the ERDA--NASA 100 kW and 200 kW wind turbines

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7212981

Dynamic blade loads, including aerodynamic, gravitational, and inertial effects, are presented for two large horizontal-axis wind turbines: the ERDA-NASA 100 kW Mod-0 and 200 kW Mod-0A wind power systems. Calculated and measured loads are compared for the experimental Mod-0 machine in operation at NASA's Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio. Predicted blade loads are also given for the higher power Mod-0A wind turbine now being assembled for operation as part of the municipal power plant of Clayton, New Mexico. Two major structural modifications have been made to the Mod-0 wind turbine for the purpose of reducing blade loads. A stairway within the truss tower was removed to reduce the impulsive aerodynamic loading caused by the tower wake on the downwind rotor blades. Also, the torsional stiffness of the yaw drive mechanism connecting the turbine nacelle to the tower was doubled to reduce rotor-tower interaction loads. Measured reductions in load obtained by means of these two modifications equaled or exceeded predictions.

Research Organization:
NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
EX-76-A-29-1004
OSTI ID:
7212981
Report Number(s):
ERDA/NASA/1004-77/2; NASA-TM-73711; CONF-770539-3
Resource Relation:
Conference: American Wind Energy Association meeting, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America (USA), 13 May 1977
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English