Wake anemometry for yaw error correction: feasibility and risk evaluation.

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Franhofer UK Research Limited

Collaborative Research & Development

Innovate UK

01 June 2015

30 November 2015

6 months

£86,271

Scotland

Competition Call: 1405_CRD_ENE_GEN_ENCATESR1 - Not Available. Activity Energy Catalyst Rnd 1 Early Stage

Project Contact, Franhofer UK Research Limited

Project Contact, SgurrControl Limited
Project Contact, SgurrEnergy Limited

Wind energy is becoming a vital ingredient in the nation's energy mix. Displacing fossil fuels and exploiting our unique natural resource, wind energy seems to be entering a golden age. However, the cost of offshore wind in particular remains relatively high and can begin to hold back uptake of this low carbon option. An important part of the energy costs comes from the maintenance and servicing of large offshore facilities. Reducing wear and downtime and improving individual turbine efficiency is an important goal for the designers of the next generation of wind turbines. Behind every wind turbine there is generated a wake pattern that can give us vital information about the alignment of a turbine. This project will look at the feasibility of low cost advanced anemometry techniques to measure wake patterns as part of a turbine yaw control system, this will enable turbines to always be at optimum yaw angle thus reducing uneven loading on the blades and ensuring optimum efficiency. The expected outcome from the project will be a system level design and route to commercialisation of a low cost yaw control system.Wind energy is becoming a vital ingredient in the nation's energy mix. Displacing fossil fuels and exploiting our unique natural resource, wind energy seems to be entering a golden age. However, the cost of offshore wind in particular remains relatively high and can begin to hold back uptake of this low carbon option. An important part of the energy costs comes from the maintenance and servicing of large offshore facilities. Reducing wear and downtime and improving individual turbine efficiency is an important goal for the designers of the next generation of wind turbines. Behind every wind turbine there is generated a wake pattern that can give us vital information about the alignment of a turbine. This project will look at the feasibility of low cost advanced anemometry techniques to measure wake patterns as part of a turbine yaw control system, this will enable turbines to always be at optimum yaw angle thus reducing uneven loading on the blades and ensuring optimum efficiency. The expected outcome from the project will be a system level design and route to commercialisation of a low cost yaw control system.Wind energy is becoming a vital ingredient in the nation's energy mix. Displacing fossil fuels and exploiting our unique natural resource, wind energy seems to be entering a golden age. However, the cost of offshore wind in particular remains relatively high and can begin to hold back uptake of this low carbon option. An important part of the energy costs comes from the maintenance and servicing of large offshore facilities. Reducing wear and downtime and improving individual turbine efficiency is an important goal for the designers of the next generation of wind turbines. Behind every wind turbine there is generated a wake pattern that can give us vital information about the alignment of a turbine. This project will look at the feasibility of low cost advanced anemometry techniques to measure wake patterns as part of a turbine yaw control system, this will enable turbines to always be at optimum yaw angle thus reducing uneven loading on the blades and ensuring optimum efficiency. The expected outcome from the project will be a system level design and route to commercialisation of a low cost yaw control system.

04/12/15