UK: Turbine Control Workshop Showcases Green Energy Ambitions

New wind turbine control technology being developed at the University of Hull was top of the agenda at a prestigious two-day workshop in Hull last week.

Some of the world’s leading turbine manufacturers attended the workshop, providing an opportunity to share cutting-edge intelligence on making offshore technology more reliable and efficient.

Delegates were given an insight into unique research by Prof. Ron Patton of the University of Hull’s Department of Engineering into developing sophisticated Fault Detection and Diagnosis and Fault Tolerant Control systems capable of maintaining high levels of performance in a range of wind conditions and improving fault detection and repair.

The Sustainable Control of Offshore Wind Turbines event showcased the University’s leading role in developing robust control systems, which could hold the key to harnessing more of Britain’s wind power as the country’s renewable energy sector prepares for a period of unprecedented growth.

“There is more and more interest in offshore wind energy in the UK as a major renewable energy source for electric power,” said Prof. Patton. “While the technology is proven, it is still evolving and our aim is to make the next generation of wind turbines more cost-effective, reliable, safe and easier to maintain.”

Control systems being showcased at the event indicate it is possible for offshore wind turbines to provide sustainable electrical power over a wide range of wind speeds and to survive undamaged in bad-to-extreme weather.

Tested using an advanced simulation of a 4.8MW turbine, they can also be used to provide constant condition monitoring, detecting and ‘self-repairing’ of faults before they become serious.

The workshop is being hosted by CASS, the University’s business-facing hub for renewable energy and the low carbon economy.

Prof. Stephanie Haywood, director of CASS, said: “To make offshore wind financially viable, costs need to be reduced from £150/MW to £100/MW.

“Fault tolerant control of offshore wind turbines can both increase the amount of power converted from wind into usable electrical power, making them more efficient and reducing the cost per watt.

“It also limits the operating power/turbine speed to some specified values to prevent the turbine from unsafe operation under high wind conditions thus reducing maintenance requirements. Since around 15 per cent of the whole-life cost of offshore wind energy comes from maintenance issues, fault tolerant control can make a further significant contribution towards cost reduction.

“The large fluctuations in wind speed and energy offshore means that the turbine must work in a very harsh and demanding environment. Increase in turbine size to multi-megawatt capacity gives rise to an increase in probability of turbine system faults and control system faults, as well as structural faults due to material fatigue.

“Current offshore wind control technology does not allow for sufficiently efficient operation with wind speed variations. The University of Hull work offers a solution through combining estimation and monitoring with fault-tolerant control and self-repair.

“The enhanced control systems could be added to existing turbine designs, so a short timescale is possible, but realistically this might be three to five years.” 

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Press release, September 24, 2012; Image: University of Hull