Abstract
The dynamic performance of a wind turbine drive train significantly influences the operation of an entire machine. In this work, a megawatt wind turbine drive train is subject to theoretical and experimental dynamic analysis. The method of rigid-flexible coupling multibody dynamics was applied to develop a dynamic model of the entire drive train. This model was then used to study the natural characteristics of the system. The blades, hub, main shaft, and speed-up gearbox in the dynamic model were modeled as flexible bodies. The potential resonances of the system were detected through Campbell and modal energy distribution analyses. Theoretical results show that the first-order natural frequency of the system is approximately 1.72 Hz. This frequency represents a torsional vibration mode, Moreover, resonances are not observed within the normal operating speed range of the drive train. An experimental remote real-time system was developed to monitor the torsional vibration of the drive train. This vibration was used to measure the torsional vibration of the system overall. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical results.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
A. Hemami, Wind turbine technology, Delmar Cengage Learning (2011).
G. Lloyd, Wind energy GmbH, rules and guide-lines, IV Industrial Services, Guideline for Certification of Wind Turbines, Supplement (2010).
J. Krouse, Wind turbine gearbox vibration, Power Engineering, 113 (10) (2009) 16–17.
C. C. Zhu et al., Analysis of nonlinear coupling dynamic characteristics of gearbox system about wind-driven generator, Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 41 (8) (2005) 203–207.
D. T. Qin, J. H. Wang and T. C. Lim, Flexible, Multibody dynamic modeling of horizontal wind turbine drivetrain system, Journal of Mechanical Design, 131 (2009) 114501–1-8.
W. Leithead and M. Rogers, Drive-train characteristics of constant speed HAWT’s: Part I-representation by simple dynamic models, Wind Engineering, 20 (3) (1996) 149–174.
M. Martins et al., Validation of fixedspeed wind turbine dynamic models with measured data, Renewable Energy, 32 (2007) 1301–1316.
K. Stol, Dynamics modeling and periodic control of horizontal-axial wind turbines, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Colorado (2001).
Y. Nam, Y. La, J. Son, Y. Oh and J. Cho, The effect of torque scheduling on the performance and mechanical loads of a wind turbine, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 28 (2014) 1599–1608.
J. Helsen, P. Peeters, K. Vanslambrouck, F. Vanhollebeke and W. Desmet, The dynamic behavior induced by different wind turbine gearbox suspension methods assessed by means of the flexible multibody technique, Renewable Energy, 69 (2014) 336–346.
A. Burlibasa and E. Ceanga, Frequency domain design of gain scheduling control for large wind systems in full-load region, Energy Conversion and Management, 86 (2014) 204–215.
B. Song, S. Hu and H. Xu, Application of flexible multibody method for wind turbine drive train dynamic modeling, Proceedings of the 2013 International Conference on Energy, Hengshan, China (2013) 250–260.
J. Peeters, D. Vandepitte and P. Sas, Analysis of internal drive train dynamics in wind turbine, Wind Energy, 9 (2006) 141–161.
J. Peeters, D. Vandepitte and P. Sas, Flexible multibody model of three-stage planetary gearbox in a wind turbine, Proc. ISMA, Leuven (2004) 3923–3941.
C. C. Zhu, X. Y. Xu and H. J. Wang, Modal prediction and sensitivity analysis of wind-turbine planetary gear system with flexible planet pin, Advanced Science Letters, 4 (3) (2011) 1219–1224.
C. C. Zhu, X. Y. Xu, T. C. Lim, X. S. Du and M. Y. Liu, Effect of flexible pin on the dyamic behaviors of wind turbine planetary gear drives, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 227 (2013) 74–86.
C. C. Zhu, X. Y. Xu and H. J. Liu, Research on dynamical characteristics of wind turbine gearboxes with flexible pins, Renewable Energy, 68 (2014) 724–732.
C. C. Zhu, S. Chen, H. J. Liu, H. Q. Huang, G. F. Li and F. Ma, Dynamic analysis of the drive train of a wind turbine based upon the measured load spectrum, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 28 (2014) 2033–2040.
B. Marrant, The validation of MBS multi-megawatt gearbox models on a 13.2 MW test rig, Simpack User Meeting (2012) 3.
P. Maegaard, A. Krenz and W. Palz, Wind power for the world: international reviews and developments, Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd, CRC Press, Boca Raton, United States (2013).
S. Stephan, V. Berbyuk and H. Johansson, Review on wind turbines with focus on drive train system dynamics, Wind Energy (2014).
S. Chen, Dynamic characteristics research of megawatt level wind turbine drive train, Master Thesis, Chongqing University (2013).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Recommended by Associate Editor Cheolung Cheong
Caichao Zhu is currently a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission, Chongqing University, China. His research interests include the dynamics of gear systems, the tribology of mechanical transmissions, and the design of accurate transmission, among others. He has published more than 100 technical papers in international journals.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhu, C., Chen, S., Song, C. et al. Dynamic analysis of a megawatt wind turbine drive train. J Mech Sci Technol 29, 1913–1919 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0413-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0413-6