A design methodology for selecting ratios for a variable ratio gearbox used in a wind turbine with active blades

Abstract This paper investigates the performance of a variable ratio gearbox (VRG) used in a small fixed-speed wind turbine with active blades. The major components of the VRG-enabled drivetrain are an automatic-manual gearbox and squirrel cage induction generator that connects directly to the grid. The simplicity of this system may be appealing for applications when cost and reliability are of concern. It is an alternative to variable speed systems, which necessitate a modified generator and power conditioning equipment. During partial load operation the VRG provides a discrete set of rotor speeds. This allows the controller to track the wind speed and to achieve a greater efficiency. This study suggests three VRG ratios are sufficient to improve performance when used with active blades. A case study is presented where the performance is simulated using three different wind data sets. The study suggests that the VRG can improve production between 7 and 8.5% in low wind areas. The design procedure also illustrates a technique for finding the lowest and highest gear ratios needed for VRG design. These ratios allow the system to achieve the lowest cut-in and rated speeds. The approach also has useful implications for the design of a continuously variable transmission.

[1]  Erich Hau,et al.  Wind Turbines: Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics , 1999 .

[2]  Kathryn E. Johnson,et al.  Methods for Controlling a Wind Turbine System With a Continuously Variable Transmission in Region 2 , 2009 .

[3]  Maureen Hand,et al.  Land Use Requirements of Modern Wind Power Plants in the United States , 2009 .

[4]  William Leithead,et al.  Classical control of active pitch regulation of constant speed horizontal axis wind turbines , 1992 .

[5]  Yasser M. Ahmed,et al.  Operation, performance and economic analysis of low head micro-hydropower turbines for rural and remote areas: A review , 2015 .

[6]  Wenyuan Li,et al.  Effect of Wind Speed on Wind Turbine Power Converter Reliability , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[7]  Hamid Reza Karimi,et al.  Modern small wind turbine design solutions comparison in terms of estimated cost to energy output ratio , 2015 .

[8]  Frede Blaabjerg,et al.  Future on Power Electronics for Wind Turbine Systems , 2013, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.

[9]  Yi Guo,et al.  Effect of Tip-Speed Constraints on the Optimized Design of a Wind Turbine , 2014 .

[10]  Mohammad Tariq Iqbal,et al.  Reliability analysis of grid connected small wind turbine power electronics , 2009 .

[11]  Jan Pierik,et al.  Inertial response of variable speed wind turbines , 2006 .

[12]  Yi Zhang,et al.  Comparison and evaluation of three main types of wind turbines , 2008, 2008 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition.

[13]  William Leithead,et al.  Review of wind turbine control , 1990 .

[14]  Dongmei Chen,et al.  Optimal Control of a Wind Turbine With a Variable Ratio Gearbox for Maximum Energy Capture and Prolonged Gear Life , 2014 .

[15]  Oliver Paish,et al.  Small hydro power: technology and current status , 2002 .

[16]  Young Chan Kim,et al.  Compositional engineering of perovskite materials for high-performance solar cells , 2015, Nature.

[17]  Milutin Jovanovic,et al.  Generic maximum power point tracking controller for small-scale wind turbines , 2012 .

[18]  Boualem Hadjerioua,et al.  An Assessment of Energy Potential at Non-Powered Dams in the United States , 2012 .

[19]  John F. Hall,et al.  Dynamic Optimization of Drivetrain Gear Ratio to Maximize Wind Turbine Power Generation—Part 2: Control Design , 2013 .

[20]  Brian Vad Mathiesen,et al.  Smart Energy Systems for coherent 100% renewable energy and transport solutions , 2015 .

[21]  Malabika Basu,et al.  Enhanced Network Voltage Management Techniques Under the Proliferation of Rooftop Solar PV Installation in Low-Voltage Distribution Network , 2017, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.

[22]  Dawei Xiang,et al.  An Industry-Based Survey of Reliability in Power Electronic Converters , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[23]  J. Cotrell,et al.  Assessing the Potential of a Mechanical Continuously Variable Transmission for Wind Turbines , 2005 .

[24]  John F. Hall,et al.  Dynamic Optimization of Drivetrain Gear Ratio to Maximize Wind Turbine Power Generation—Part 1: System Model and Control Framework , 2013 .

[25]  Kathryn E. Johnson,et al.  Adaptive Pitch Control of Variable-Speed Wind Turbines , 2008 .

[26]  Ola Carlson,et al.  Validation of fixed speed wind turbine dynamic models with measured data , 2007 .

[27]  Giacomo Mantriota,et al.  Dynamic behaviour of wind power systems equipped with automatically regulated continuously variable transmission , 1996 .

[28]  A. Pintz,et al.  Design and dynamic simulation of a fixed pitch 56 kW wind turbine drive train with a continuously variable transmission , 1986 .

[29]  Mohit Singh,et al.  Fixed-speed and variable-slip wind turbines providing spinning reserves to the grid , 2013, 2013 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting.

[30]  Xueyong Zhao,et al.  A novel power splitting drive train for variable speed wind power generators , 2003 .

[31]  John F. Hall,et al.  Performance of a 100 kW wind turbine with a Variable Ratio Gearbox , 2012 .

[32]  Ali M. Eltamaly,et al.  Maximum power extraction from wind energy system based on fuzzy logic control , 2013 .

[33]  Dongmei Chen,et al.  Wind Turbine Gearbox Control for Maximum Energy Capture and Prolonged Gear Life , 2012 .

[34]  Surya Santoso,et al.  Fundamental time–domain wind turbine models for wind power studies , 2007 .

[35]  Elif Ertekin,et al.  Phonon transport on two-dimensional graphene/boron nitride superlattices , 2014 .

[36]  Kathryn E. Johnson.  Adaptive Torque Control of Variable Speed Wind Turbines , 2004 .

[37]  Dongmei Chen,et al.  Wind energy conversion with a variable-ratio gearbox: design and analysis , 2011 .

[38]  Wei Li,et al.  Output power control for hydro-viscous transmission based continuously variable speed wind turbine , 2014 .

[39]  Siegfried Heier,et al.  Grid Integration of Wind Energy Conversion Systems , 1998 .