Dynamic Characterization Testing of Wind Turbines

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in conjunction with the U.S. wind industry, is supporting the development and commercialization of utility-grade wind turbines. Under the Certification Program, the DOE, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will assist the U.S. industry in obtaining American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)-type certification for their class of wind turbine. As part of the Certification Program, NREL is conducting a suite of certification tests that are specified by the International Electro-technical Commission standards. One emerging certification requirement is to characterize the dynamic behavior of the wind turbine’s operation. Therefore, the purpose of the dynamic characterization tests is to document the wind turbine’s fundamental dynamic characteristics under critical operational modes and fault conditions in light of turbine design specifications. Some of the dynamic characteristics that we determine from testing include the conformation of fundamental structural vibration frequencies and the system’s dynamic response to typical rated and extreme modes of operation. This paper discusses NREL’s approach in designing and implementing a dynamic characterization test for commercial wind turbines. One important objective of the dynamic characterization test is to provide a Certification Agent with test data to show that the wind turbine’s mechanical equipment is operating within design vibration limits. For NREL’s industry participant, the test results are an indication of the wind system’s overall quality of mechanical operation that can be used to compare with established industry standards for a wind system’s response under typical and extreme operating conditions.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.