Project description
The NOVA research project develops novel control strategies for wind turbines and validates them under real operating conditions. The aim is to optimize wind turbine operation using preview information about the incoming wind while jointly considering energy yield, structural loads and noise emissions.
Lidar-assisted control plays a central role in this approach. Nacelle-mounted lidar systems measure the incoming wind before it reaches the turbine. This information enables the turbine controller to react to changes in wind speed in advance. Within the project, lidar-assisted model predictive control methods are further developed and extended to incorporate additional control objectives.
A particular focus is placed on operation in the partial-load region and the transition to rated operation. In addition to increasing energy yield and reducing structural loads (particularly tower-base loads) the project investigates how targeted adjustments to the turbine control system can influence noise emissions. This is intended to enable flexible turbine operation that accounts for different objectives depending on the present operating and environmental conditions.
The developed methods are first evaluated in simulations and hardware-in-the-loop environments and subsequently tested on research wind turbines with rated powers of 2 MW and 6.2 MW. Through close collaboration between Flensburg University of Applied Sciences and the project partners, the research results are intended to be transferable to other wind turbines.
Preceding project
Objectives
- Increase energy yield through predictive lidar-assisted control
- Reduce structural loads and noise emissions
- Develop real-time capable model predictive control methods
- Validate and test the developed methods on real wind turbines
Funding
