Experimental workbench for aircraft ram air micro-turbine generators

The implementation of experimental benches for wind turbines is fundamental for performing tests under controlled conditions of wind power generation systems. A particular case of these systems are the generators mounted on aircraft. The design, construction, and testing of a test bench at laboratory level is presented. The aim is to develop a facility for the study, design and validation of wind turbines for small unmanned aerial vehicles. A model based on the node analysis and its identification through the time response of the actual boost-circuit of the generator is obtained. The validation of the model was carried out through static, dynamic and wind tunnel tests. The model obtained proved to be fundamental for the design of a control system which rendered high performance in the range of operation. The test bench was developed for wind tunnel tests together with the required instrumentation and data adquisition system. The data processing and the control implementation was developed in LabVIEW®. Some results showing the effectivity of the experimental bench are included.