Adaptive System Based on Macro-Fiber Composite Transducers for Vibration Control and Noise Reduction in Wind Turbine Blades

研究目标和方法本研究的目的是通过减轻叶片的振动来改善可再生能源风力发电叶片的性能，从而降低空气噪声，提高叶片的S疲劳寿命。方法是将分布的压电贴片网络集成到叶片中，通过主动压电驱动来缓解低频(100 Hz)振动，并通过被动分流减振来缓解高频振动(100 Hz)。智能价值风力涡轮机的振动既会影响周围地区的空气噪声，又会因结构疲劳而增加涡轮机的生命周期成本。该项目将补充现有的风力涡轮机叶片的“全球”控制，通过使用一个分布式的压电复合材料贴片网络来减少更“局部”规模的振动。与单片压电片相比，压电复合贴片提供了更高的耐用性、与曲面的一致性以及与复合叶片材料更好的兼容性。该网络还将提供风力涡轮机史无前例的多尺度振动抑制能力。更广泛的影响风能目前占美国可再生能源装机容量的42%。能源部面临的重大挑战之一是到2030年使美国20%的能源来自风能。拟议的压电复合网络将降低周围地区的空气噪声水平，并将提高叶片的运行状态和结构寿命。该项目还将包括修改加州大学圣迭戈分校现有的一门课程，国际研究合作，以及面向低收入6-12年级学生的推广努力。

Research Objectives and ApproachesThe objective of this research is to improve the performance of wind turbine blades for renewable energy generation by mitigating the blade vibrations, hence reducing the airborne noise and increasing the blade?s fatigue life.The approach is to integrate with the blade a distributed network of piezo-composite patches to mitigate low-frequency vibrations ( 100Hz) through active piezoelectric actuation and high-frequency vibrations (100 Hz) through passive shunt damping. Intellectual MeritVibrations in wind turbines result in both airborne noise affecting surrounding areas, and increased lifecycle cost of the turbine from structural fatigue. The project will complement existing "global" control of wind turbine blades by reducing vibrations at a more "local" scale using a distributed network of piezo-composite patches. Piezo-composite patches, compared to monolithic piezoelectric disks, offer increased durability, conformability to curved surfaces, and better compatibility with the composite blade material. The network will also provide a multi-scale vibration suppression capability that is unprecedented in wind turbines. Broader ImpactsWind currently accounts for 42% of the installed renewable power in the U.S. One of the Grand Challenges of the Department of Energy is to have 20% of the U.S. energy generated by wind by 2030. The proposed piezo-composite network will reduce airborne noise levels to surrounding areas and will increase the operating regime and the structural life of the blades. The project will also include the modification of an existing course at UCSD, international research cooperation, and outreach efforts to low-income 6-12 grade students.