Abstract
In this talk, I will discuss efforts to develop and validate a comprehensive analysis tool for wind turbine rotors, encompassing blade shape design, aerodynamic performance assessment, load analysis, annual energy production estimation, and power control for a 20 MW variable-speed, variable-pitch (VSVP) horizontal-axis wind turbine. The aerodynamic design of the blade involves not only aerodynamic optimization but also inverse design methods. Given a specified lift distribution or axial induction factor along the blade span, the inverse design approach determines the chord length and twist angle required to satisfy these conditions. The aerodynamic design and analysis are based on Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT). This study presents BEMT and its correction methods, validating annual energy production estimates for specified mean wind speeds under a Rayleigh distribution and analyzing the power coefficient as a function of the blade tip speed ratio. Also, rotor-plane drag and blade root bending moments, induced by wind speeds, are evaluated under operating conditions and validated accordingly. The final results include the power performance curve for small variations in pitch angle and the impact of wind speed on rotor torque, power output, rotational speed, thrust, and pitch angle. Furthermore, by dynamically modeling the rotor, drivetrain, and generator, the study examines system behavior through a linearization process, enabling torque control below the rated wind speed and pitch control above it. The ultimate objective is to achieve real-time simulation of power generation for a virtual wind turbine by regulating the pitch angle and generator torque in response to synthetic wind data.
About the Speaker
Dr. Ryu is Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea and is affiliated with the Departments of Energy. Prior to joining the university, he worked on KT-1 Trainer aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle projects in Aerospace Division at Daewoo Heavy Industries (currently integrated into Korea Aerospace Industries), and conducted the Korea Next-Generation Reactor project and power plant accident investigations and technical support at KEPCO. His research interests include aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, aerodynamic design and performance analysis of wind turbines and propellers, computational aeroacoustics, and flow-induced vibration. He has published nearly 80 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, has participated in over 170 presentations in technical symposia. Dr. Ryu served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Wind Energy Journal and also held the positions of director and president of the Korea Wind Energy Association. He leads the Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics group, with a particular focus on the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of wind turbines and urban air mobility.
Host: Professor Leonardo Chamorro