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Evaluating the influence of a high-fidelity generator model on the gearbox dynamic responses of wind turbines

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Abstract

This study evaluates the influence of a high-fidelity generator model on the dynamic responses of the gears and bearings of a 1 MW wind turbine. Fully coupled aeroelastic-servo-control numerical models with simplified and high-fidelity generators of the wind turbine are established. The numerical models are then verified through comparisons with another software in terms of natural characteristics and dynamic responses in the time domain. Dynamic analyses of the numerical models of the wind turbine are conducted under several environmental conditions. The external dynamic load excitation and internal load effects of the gearbox of the wind turbine numerical models with the simplified and high-fidelity generators are compared. The long-term fatigue damage of the gears and bearings of the two numerical models is also calculated and compared. Results show that the high-fidelity generator model increases the gearbox’s external and internal load fluctuations due to power grid and generator control effects. The high-fidelity generator model results in higher fatigue damage of the gears and bearings in the gearbox in comparison with the fatigue damage in the simplified generator model. This study provides a crucial basis for the design and dynamic analysis of wind turbine gearboxes.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the financial support from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Fire Service College and the technical support from the College of Mechanical Engineering in Chongqing University. In addition, the authors would like to thank Shuaishuai Wang from Norwegian University of Science and Technology for substantial discussions on wind turbine modeling and data processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Fire Service College, Kunming, China

    Yunpeng Zhou

  2. College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China

    Chengwu Lee

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  1. Yunpeng Zhou
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  2. Chengwu Lee
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Correspondence to Yunpeng Zhou.

Additional information

Yunpeng Zhou is a Researcher in Fire Service College in the People’s Republic of China. He received his Master’s degree (2016) in Mechanical Engineering from Chongqing University. He has been studying wind turbine dynamics. He is currently conducting research on offshore wind turbine fire risk assessment.

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Zhou, Y., Lee, C. Evaluating the influence of a high-fidelity generator model on the gearbox dynamic responses of wind turbines. J Mech Sci Technol 35, 5273–5285 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-0501-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-021-0501-8

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