Wind turbine load analysis of a full range LPV controller.

A wind turbine load analysis featuring both fatigue and extreme loads for a full range Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) controller is presented in this paper. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5 MW reference wind turbine is simulated with realistic profiles of turbulent wind, according to the IEC 61400-1 regulation, using several NREL's tools, with a total of 354 numerical simulations. Classical techniques has been applied, like the Rain-flow counting (RFC) algorithm, and the Palmgren-Miner Rule with Goodman's correction to estimate the wind turbine components damage rate. The mechanical loads under consideration are the tower and blades main moments. The results show a lifetime equivalent load reduction with the LPV controller in comparison with the classical Gain Scheduling Proportional Integral (GSPI), for all analyzed loads, similar to those achieved by other publications in the literature. This improvement is achieved using the same online measurements and information as the used by the GSPI controller. • A full range LPV controller which reduces mechanical loads of a wind turbine is evaluated. • The AEP comparison shows no significant reduction. • All the analyzed loads presented an improvement, particularly, the blade root out of plane bending moment. • Both fatigue and extreme loads are considered under the IEC 61400-1 regulation. • The improvements are achieved with a classical control topology without extra sensors or actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]