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Abstract

In an on-shore horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), during normal operation, the key contributor to the fatigue damage of the tower is the aerodynamic thrust transferred to it through yaw bearing. In this paper, a vibration isolation based approach with a linear generator as a damper is used to reduce these loads coming onto the tower. In this concept, the linear generator along with a spring in parallel is introduced between the tower top and rotor-nacelle assembly (RNA). WindPACT1.5 MW turbine is considered for the study. Optimal isolator design parameters, stiffness, damping, etc. are obtained through parametric studies using an in-built simplified aeroelastic wind turbine MATLAB model. Comparison of the short-term damage equivalent loads (DEL) of the tower, fore-aft oscillations of the tower-top is presented for wind turbine with and without vibration isolator. A reduction of the tower top and tower base forces are achieved: 20–75% near cut-in and cut-out wind speed, and 0–20% near rated wind speed.

Keywords

horizontal axis wind turbine vibration isolation load mitigation linear generator tower oscillations

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Load mitigation in wind turbine tower using a vibration isolator

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