Wind Energy Systems: Optimising Design and Construction for Safe and Reliable Operation

Large-scale wind power generation is one of the fastest developing sources of renewable energy and already makes a substantial contribution to power grids in many countries worldwide. With technology maturing, the challenge is now to increase penetration, and optimise the design, construction and performance of wind energy systems. Fundamental issues of safety and reliability are paramount in this drive to increase capacity and efficiency.

"Wind energy systems: Optimising design and construction for safe and reliable operation" provides a comprehensive review of the latest developments in the design, construction and operation of large-scale wind energy systems, including in offshore and other problematic environments.

Part one provides detailed coverage of wind resource assessment and siting methods relevant to wind turbine and wind farm planning, as well as aeroelastics, aerodynamics, and fatigue loading that affect the safety and reliability of wind energy systems. This coverage is extended in part two, where the design and development of individual components is considered in depth, from wind turbine rotors to drive train and control systems, and on to tower design and construction. Part three explores operation and maintenance issues, such as reliability and maintainability strategies and condition monitoring systems, before discussing performance assessment and optimisation routes for wind energy systems in low wind speed environments and cold climates. Part four reviews offshore wind energy systems development, from the impact of environmental loads such as wind, waves and ice, to site specific construction and integrated wind farm planning, and of course the critical issues and strategies for offshore operation and maintenance.

With its distinguished editors and international teams of contributors, Wind energy systems is a standard reference for wind power engineers, technicians and manufacturers, as well as researchers and academics involved in this expanding field.

Key features:

- reviews the latest developments in the design, construction and operation of large-scale wind energy systems
- offers detailed coverage of wind resource assessment and siting methods relevant to wind turbine and wind farm planning
- explores operation and maintenance issues, such as reliability and maintainability strategies and condition monitoring systems
- reviews offshore wind energy systems development, from the impact of environmental loads such as wind, waves and ice, to site specific construction and integrated wind farm planning SHOW LESS READ MORE >

PART 1: FUNDAMENTAL WIND ENERGY RESOURCES, DESIGN, SAFETY AND RELIABILITY

Meteorology and wind resource assessment for wind farm development
R Barthelmie and S C Pryor, Indiana University, USA
- Introduction
- Assessment of the wind climate
- From wind climates to wind resources
- Wind farm layout
- Special considerations for offshore wind farms
- Short-term forecasting
- Future trends
- Acknowledgements
- References.

Site investigation, characterisation and assessment for wind turbine design and construction
J M Tinjum, University of Wisconsin-Madison, R W Christensen, Inc, USA
- Introduction to wind energy civil design
- Wind energy geotechnical investigation
- Turbine foundations
- Civil design and micro-siting
- References and sources of further information and advice

Aeroelasticity and structural dynamics of wind turbines
V A Riziotis, National Technical University of Athens, Greece and H A Madsen, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
- Introduction
- Structural dynamics of wind turbines
- Aeroelastics of wind turbines under operational conditions
- Application towards improved aeroelastic design and construction
- Future trends
- Sources of further information and advice
- References

Wind turbine wakes and wind farm aerodynamics
J N Sørensen, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
- Introduction
- One-dimensional momentum theory
- Blade element momentum theory
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling of wind turbine rotors
- Wind farm aerodynamics
- Simulation of flow and turbulence in wind farms
- Future trends
- Sources of further information and advice
- Acknowledgement
- References

Fatigue loading of wind turbines
P S Veers, Sandia National Laboratories, USA
- Introduction and overview
- Damage model
- Short-term load distribution
- Long-term load distribution
- Fatigue life evaluation
- Conclusions
- References

PART 2: WIND ENERGY SYSTEM MATERIALS, DESIGN AND COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT

Aerodynamic design of wind turbine rotors
C Bak, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
- Introduction
- State of the art
- Models and elements used in the rotor design process
- Rotor aerodynamics
- An example of the rotor design process
- Future trendsSources of further information and advice
- Acknowledgements
- Nomenclature
- References

Wind turbine drive train systems
Z Chen, Aalborg University, Denmark
- Introduction
- Gearbox and bearing systems
- Power electronic systems
- Electrical generator basic characteristics
- Electrical conversion systems
- Generation system optimisation
- Conclusions and future trends
- References

Wind turbine control systems and techniques
T van Engelen and S Kanev, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), The Netherlands
- Introduction
- Instrumentation
- Control objectives
- Conventional wind turbine control
- Advanced control for load reduction
- Future trends
- References

Wind turbine tower design, erection and maintenance
M Veljkovic, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, M Feldmann, J Naumes and D Pak, RWTH Aachen University, Germany, L Simões da Silva and C Rebelo, University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Introduction
- Lattice towers
- Tubular towers
- Load cases on towers for wind turbines
- Ring flange connection
- Periodic monitoring
- References

PART 3: WIND ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT, AND OPTIMISATION

Wind energy system reliability and maintainability, and operation and maintenance strategies
I Alsyouf, Linnaeus University, Sweden
- Introduction
- Bathtub curve concept
- The role of reliability and maintainability engineering in wind energy systems
- Systems engineering
- Operation and maintenance issues and strategies
- Cost effective maintenance for sustainable and competitive energy supply
- Efforts towards improved design and construction for wind power systems
- Future trends
- Sources of further information and advice
- Acknowledgements
- References

Wind turbine condition monitoring systems and techniques
J Giebhardt, Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Power Systems (IWES), Germany
- Introduction
- Metrology for condition monitoring
- Algorithms for condition monitoring
- Condition monitoring standards and technical guide lines
- Future trends in condition monitoring
- References

Wind turbine performance assessment and knowledge management for aerodynamic behaviour modelling and design: IEA experience
T Maeda, Mie University, Japan, G Schepers, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and Wind Energy, The Netherlands
- Introduction
- Aerodynamic measurements
- Field rotor aerodynamics database
- Databases for special wind climates/high wind regimes
- Future trends
- References

Optimising wind turbine design for operation in low wind speed environments
M Clifton-Smith, Garrad Hassan Pacific, Australia, D Wood, University of Calgary, Canada and A Wright, University of Newcastle, Australia and Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Australia
- Introduction
- Aerodynamic modelling for starting
- Optimising blade design for power and starting
- Actual blade design, construction and performance
- Multi-dimensional design of larger blades
- Conclusions
- Acknowledgements
- References

Optimising wind turbine design for operation in cold climates
L Battisti, University of Trento, Italy
- Effect of cold climates on wind turbine design and operation
- Effect of ice on wind turbines
- Effects of ice on aerodynamics and loads
- Icing effect on power production
- Anti-icing and de-icing systems, design and performance
- Ice prevention systems (IPS) concepts comparison and discussion
- Emerging solutions for ice prevention systems (IPS)
- Ice throw and icing risk
- Energy drop in cold climates and economic risk
- References

PART 4: OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Offshore environmental loads and wind turbine design: impact of wind, wave, currents and ice
J van der Tempel, N F B Diepeveen, W E de Vries and D Cerda Salzmann, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
- Introduction
- Overview of environmental loads
- Wind
- Waves
- Current
- Hydrodynamic loads
- Long-term wave description
- Ice loads
- References

Design, construction and installation of support structures for offshore wind energy systems
K Lesny and W Richwien, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
- Introduction
- Types of support structure
- Design methods and techniques
- Site specific design optimization
- Foundation installation techniques
- Future trends
- Sources of further information and advice
- References

Integrated offshore wind farm planning and design
M B Zaaijer, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
- Introduction
- Overview of the system, parties and processes
- Design and context of offshore wind farms
- Wind farm design and integration (site specific)
- Technology development for offshore wind farms (general purpose)
- Future trends
- Sources of further information and advice
- References

Operation and maintenance of offshore wind energy systems
L W M M Rademakers, H Braam and T S Obdam, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), The Netherlands
- Introduction
- Operation and maintenance issues
- Operation and maintenance models and strategies
- Collecting operational experiences
- Site specific operation and maintenance and future trends
- References

Professor John Dalsgaard Sørensen is Head of Wind Energy Systems and Technologies (WEST) at Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark, and is noted for his research on wind energy structures and wind turbines.

Professor Jens Nørkær Sørensen is Head of Fluid Mechanics at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and is noted for his research in fluid dynamics and the aerodynamics and aero-acoustics of wind turbines.