Influence of control system on aerodynamic characteristics and elastic deformation of horizontal axis wind turbine blades

Abstract

The operation of wind turbines involves a complex interaction between aerodynamics, structural mechanics, and control systems. However, the control system is frequently overlooked. To investigate the impact of the control system on the aerodynamic characteristics and elastic deformations of wind turbines, this paper initially integrates the control system into the blade element momentum theory (BEMT) for calculating aerodynamic forces. Subsequently, the control system is incorporated into fluid-structure interaction (FSI) calculations to assess its influence on the overall performance of the turbine. The control system employs variable speed and pitch control, while the structural dynamics are modeled using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. When the control system is integrated with blade element momentum theory to calculate the aerodynamic forces of the wind rotor, it is observed that, below the rated wind speed, a portion of the torque error is transferred to the rotor speed. In contrast, above the rated wind speed, the entire torque error is transferred to the blade pitch angle (BPA). Crucially, when the control system is integrated, the rotor speed and BPA are no longer treated as known parameters. This approach enables the prediction of aerodynamic characteristics of the wind rotor, particularly under complex wind speed profiles. The control system exerts a significant influence on the FSI results, particularly in the range of wind speeds that correspond to larger blade deformations. This work can provide a reference for the calculation of aerodynamic characteristics and FSI of wind turbines under complex wind conditions.