Coupling turbulent flow with blade aeroelastics and control modules in large-eddy simulation of utility-scale wind turbines

We present a large-eddy simulation framework capable of control co-design of large wind turbines, coupling the turbulent flow environment with blade aeroelastics and turbine controllers. The geometry and aerodynamics of the rotor blades and the turbine nacelle are parameterized using an actuator surface model. The baseline collective pitch control and individual pitch control (IPC) algorithms, consisting of a single-input, single-output proportional-integral controller and two integral controllers, respectively, are incorporated into the simulation framework. Furthermore, a second-order model based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is implemented to describe the blade deformation. Simulations are carried out to investigate the impact of collective and individual pitch control strategies on the deflection of turbine blades. Our results show that the IPC reduces the blade tip deflection fluctuations in the out-of-plane direction, while the fluctuations of the blade tip deflection along the in-plane direction are barely affected by the IPC. Furthermore, the blade out-of-plane deformation fluctuation is underestimated by the one-way coupling approach compared to the two-way coupling approach. The findings of this study reveal the importance of advanced control systems in reducing the dynamic loads on wind turbine blades and underscore the potential of control co-design to reduce the levelized cost of wind energy.

Automated summary

We propose a large-eddy simulation framework that integrates the turbulent flow environment, blade aeroelastics, and turbine controllers to achieve control co-design for large wind turbines. Our simulations investigate the impact of collective and individual pitch control strategies on turbine blade deflection. The results reveal that the individual pitch control reduces blade tip deflection fluctuations in the out-of-plane direction, while the in-plane direction is barely affected. We also demonstrate the underestimation of blade out-of-plane deformation fluctuation by the one-way coupling approach compared to the two-way coupling approach. This study highlights the importance of advanced control systems in reducing the dynamic loads on wind turbine blades and emphasizes the potential of control co-design to reduce the levelized cost of wind energy.