Wind Turbine Performance, Control and Design

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The course develops the fundamental concepts and theories that can be used to design an efficient wind turbine. To accomplish this task one must know the following; understand the properties of the wind resource from which the power is to be extracted, understand the blade design features and aerodynamics that yields an efficient rotor, know how to control the blade loading during gusting winds to reduce fatigue problems, and to be able to use active control to enhance turbine performance when operating below the rated wind speed. The control portion of the course will focus on various control strategies including passive control techniques as well as distributed active flow control devices and strategies. Students will have an opportunity to develop a conceptual design of a wind turbine for a specified wind distribution.