EAGER - Exploratory Investigation of Active Vibration and Flow Control in Wind Turbine Blades

0941859 Amitay总结风能是世界上增长最快的电能来源。美国目前的目标是到2030年让风能提供全国20%的电力。为了实现这一雄心勃勃的目标，必须使用比目前常用的更大的涡轮机，以便更有效地捕获风能。然而，大型涡轮机也面临着重大的技术挑战。涡轮机的结构振动可能损害风能捕获，产生不期望的声发射，并导致叶片疲劳和过早失效。智力优势：本可行性研究的目的是探索主动流动控制的应用，以减少叶片动态运动过程中的结构振动。作为项目的一部分，PI将表征和分析叶片周围的流场、叶片/气流相互作用，并利用结果优化叶片设计、改善涡轮机运行并提高整体系统安全性。拟议的研究将在通过合成射流阵列激活主动流量控制的情况下，开发扑动/俯仰叶片流场的全三维表征，以减轻叶片振动，并在各种实际条件下实现性能改善。本研究旨在达到以下目标：（1）在所有操作条件下减少振动，（2）在阵风期间减少叶片上的载荷和振动。这些目标将改善叶片疲劳，并增加能量捕获，同时保持安全操作极限。在高风速和/或阵风时，将制定流量控制策略，以减少叶片载荷和振动。安装在叶片上的各种传感器将允许确定环境操作条件、叶片结构状态和流动条件。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究将延长叶片的使用寿命，并通过设计更大的涡轮机和改善各种动态条件下的运行来增强功率捕获。拟议的项目也有很强的教育内容。风能提供了一个及时和有趣的应用和机会，以吸引和吸引学生。PI将把这项研究纳入他的课堂，包括该项目的跨学科性质，涉及流体/结构相互作用和空气动力学。Amitay是RPI新资助的NSF GK-12能源与环境外联计划的成员。他最近招募了一位西班牙裔博士。一名学生每周与一名来自纽约特洛伊的高中教师一起工作15个小时，从事风能相关项目。此外，一名格拉德生（维克托Maldonano，西班牙裔）以及一名本科生（Becca Ostman，女）将被任命为研究助理的程序的持续时间。最后，Amitay是RPI暑期项目的负责人之一，在过去的两个暑假里，他一直在指导初中和高中学生的短期夏令营。他将提议风能作为明年夏令营的主题。

0941859 Amitay Summary Wind energy is the fastest growing source of electrical energy in the world. The current US target is to have wind provide 20% of the nation electricity by 2030. Marching towards this ambitious target would necessarily involve larger turbines than what is commonly used today, in order to more efficiently capture the wind energy. However, large turbines also come with significant technical challenges. The structural vibration of the turbine could compromise wind energy capture, generate undesirable acoustic emission, and cause blade fatigue and premature failure. Intellectual Merit: The goal of this feasibility research is to explore the application of active flow control to reduce structural vibrations during dynamic motion of the blade. As part of the project the PI will characterize and analyze the flow field around the blade, the blade/flow interaction, and use the result to optimize blade design, improve turbine operation, and enhance the overall system safety. The proposed research will develop full 3D characterization of the flow field during a flapping/pitching blade under the activation of active flow control via arrays of synthetic jets to mitigate blade vibrations and to achieve improved performance in a variety of real-world conditions. This research aims to achieve the following objectives: (1) reduce vibrations at all operating conditions, and (2) reduce loads and vibrations on the blades during gusts. These objectives will ameliorate blade fatigue, and increase energy capture while maintaining safe operating limits. At high wind speed and/or wind gusts, flow control strategy will be developed to reduce blade loading and vibrations. Various sensors, mounted on the blades, would allow determination of the environmental operating conditions, blade structural state, and flow condition. Broader Impact: The proposed research will result in longer life-time of the blades, as well as enhanced power capture by enabling the design of larger turbines and improving operation under various dynamic conditions. The proposed project also has a strong educational component. Wind energy offers a timely and intriguing application and opportunity to engage and attract students. The PI will incorporate this research into his classroom to include the interdisciplinary nature of the project, involving fluid/structure interaction and aerodynamics. Prof. Amitay is a member of RPI's newly funded NSF GK-12 outreach program on Energy and Environment. He recently recruited a Hispanic Ph.D. student that has been working 15 hours a week with a high school teacher from Troy, NY in a wind energy related project. Furthermore, one grad student (Victor Maldonano, Hispanic) as well as an undergraduate student (Becca Ostman, female) will be appointed as research assistants for the duration of the program. Finally, Amitay is one of the directors of the Summer at RPI program and has been instructing short summer camps for middle and high school students in the last two summers on the Wonderful World of Flight. He will propose Wind Energy as next year's camp theme.