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An Experimental Study on a Wind Turbine Rotor Affected by Pitch Imbalance

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Mazzeo

    (Department of Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy)

  • Derek Micheletto

    (Department of Engineering Mechanics, KTH—Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Alessandro Talamelli

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

  • Antonio Segalini

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden)

Abstract

An experimental and numerical investigation about the pitch imbalance effect on a wind turbine model is performed. The characterization of the power losses and loads generated on a small-scale model and the validation of an analytical framework for the performance of unbalanced rotors are proposed. Starting from the optimal collective pitch assessment (performed to identify the condition with the maximum power coefficient), the pitch of just one blade was systematically changed: it is seen that the presence of a pitch misalignment is associated with a degradation of the turbine performance, visible both from experiments and from Blade Element Momentum (BEM) calculations (modified to account for the load asymmetry). Up to 30% power losses and a 15% thrust increase are achievable when an imbalanced rotor operates at tip speed ratios around five, clearly highlighting the importance of avoiding this phenomenon when dealing with industrial applications. The numerical model predicts this result within 5% accuracy. Additional numerical simulations showed that, away from the optimal collective pitch, the blade imbalance can provide a power increase or a power decrease with respect to the balanced case, suggesting how an operator can maximise the production of an unbalanced rotor. An analysis of the axial and lateral forces showed a sensitivity of the loads’ standard deviation when imbalance is present. An increase of the lateral loads was observed in all unbalanced cases.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Mazzeo & Derek Micheletto & Alessandro Talamelli & Antonio Segalini, 2022. "An Experimental Study on a Wind Turbine Rotor Affected by Pitch Imbalance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:22:p:8665-:d:977084
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenny Niebsch & Ronny Ramlau & Thien T. Nguyen, 2010. "Mass and Aerodynamic Imbalance Estimates of Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-15, April.
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    4. Francesco Castellani & Abdelgalil Eltayesh & Matteo Becchetti & Antonio Segalini, 2021. "Aerodynamic Analysis of a Wind-Turbine Rotor Affected by Pitch Unbalance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Derek Micheletto & Jens H. M. Fransson & Antonio Segalini, 2023. "Experimental Study of the Transient Behavior of a Wind Turbine Wake Following Yaw Actuation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.

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