Full load estimation of an offshore wind turbine based on SCADA and accelerometer data

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paper

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

As offshore wind farms (OWFs) grow older, the optimal use of the actual fatigue lifetime of an offshore wind turbine (OWT) and predominantly its foundation will get more important. In case of OWTs, both quasi-static wind/thrust loads and dynamic loads, as induced by turbulence, waves and the turbine's dynamics, contribute to its fatigue life progression. To estimate the remaining useful life of an OWT, the stresses acting on the fatigue critical locations within the structure should be monitored continuously. Unfortunately, in case of the most common monopile foundations these locations are often situated below sea-level and near the mud line and thus difficult or even impossible to access for existing OWTs. Actual strain measurements taken at accessible locations above the sea level show a correlation between thrust load and several SCADA parameters. Therefore a model is created to estimate the thrust load using SCADA data and strain measurements. Afterwards the thrust load acting on the OWT is estimated using the created model and SCADA data only. From this model the quasi static loads on the foundation can be estimated over the lifetime of the OWT. To estimate the contribution of the dynamic loads a modal decomposition and expansion based virtual sensing technique is applied. This method only uses acceleration measurements recorded at accessible locations on the tower. Superimposing both contributions leads to a so-called multi-band virtual sensing. The result is a method that allows to estimate the strain history at any location on the foundation and thus the full load, being a combination of both quasi-static and dynamic loads, acting on the entire structure. This approach is validated using data from an operating Belgian OWF. An initial good match between measured and predicted strains for a short period of time proofs the concept.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Science of Making Torque from Wind (TORQUE 2016)
Pages1-11
Number of pages11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2016
EventTorque 2016 - Munich, Germany
Duration: 5 Oct 20167 Oct 2016

Publication series

NameJournal of Physics: Conference Series
PublisherIOP Publishing
Volume753
ISSN (Print)1742-6588
ISSN (Electronic)1742-6596

Conference

ConferenceTorque 2016
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityMunich
Period5/10/167/10/16

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  • Torque 2016

    Nymfa Noppe (Participant)

    5 Oct 20167 Oct 2016

    Activity: Participating in or organising an eventParticipation in conference

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