Session: 41-02 Experimental research

Paper Number: 120981

120981 - Design and Implementation of an Experimental Test Bench for the Study of Active Flow Control in Scale Wind Turbines 

Advances in wind turbine technology are critical in the global renewable energy landscape. The continuous growth of wind turbine capacities has presented various challenges for flow and power control strategies. Developing novel smart systems capable of monitoring and controlling loads and power is required for optimal operation in modern wind generation systems. Several methods have been proposed, but the experimental validation contains complications like operation costs, size, and time required to fabricate a fully scaled wind turbine prototype. Concerning this, the implementation of reduced-scaled wind turbine test benches offers an alternative to validate new flow control strategies for optimizing the efficiency of wind turbines.

 

This paper presents the design and implementation of a wind turbine test bench for active flow control systems in small-scale wind turbines. The system includes a multi-degree mounting system, a dynamic torque sensor, a PMG (Permanent Magnet Generator), and a configurable hub for different wind rotor designs. The process design includes a FEM (Finite Element Method) analysis to evaluate the different configurations of the proposal system. As a result, the design and implementation of the overall functional structure, dynamic sensors, and complementary elements are presented. Finally, an approach of the scaling methodology is revealed based on the mathematical criteria of similarity conditions between a lab-scale wind turbine model and a reference prototype, providing helpful information to optimize wind turbine performance. It contributes to developing more efficient and reliable wind energy control solutions.

Presenting Author: Jesus Alejandro Franco Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico

Presenting Author Biography: Engineer in Mechatronics from the Technological Institute of Querétaro (2009), he obtained the degree of Master in Instrumentation and Automatic Control (2012) and Doctor in Engineering (2017) from the Autonomous University of Querétaro.
During his PhD, he carried out a research stay at the Technical University of Berlin in the Department of Experimental Fluid Mechanics where he worked together with other researchers in the development of new modules of the QBlade wind turbine design software.
He has 10 years of teaching experience teaching various courses in bachelor's and master's programs in the area of ​​Mechatronics, Renewable Energy, Advanced Electronics, Simulation, among others. During his professional career he has participated and coordinated various research projects mainly in the area of ​​Renewable Energies and Aeronautics, among which the CONACYT FOMIX, CEMIE wind, FORDECYT and PAPIME and PAPIIT projects stand out, carrying out teaching and management activities in parallel. . of thesis.
His main line of research is the development of methods to optimize the efficiency of Renewable Energy Systems through Intelligent strategies. This line has been based on the application of the design philosophy of Mechatronics applied to Renewable Energies, highlighting as its main theme the development of intelligent blades for wind turbines.
He is a member of the National System of Level I Researchers with various national and international publications, patents and technological developments transferred to various industries in the country, as well as participation in international and national conferences.
He is currently a full-time professor in the Renewable Energy Engineering Degree at the National School of Higher Studies Unidad Juriquilla UNAM.

Authors:

Jesus Alejandro Franco Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico
Gael Salinas-Anaya Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico