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Analysis and optimal calibration of model-based wind turbine controllers
  • +2
  • Livia Brandetti,
  • Sebastiaan Paul Mulders,
  • Yichao Liu,
  • Simon Watson,
  • Jan-Willem van Wingerden
Livia Brandetti
Delft University of Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Sebastiaan Paul Mulders
Delft University of Technology
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Yichao Liu
Delft University of Technology
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Simon Watson
Delft University of Technology
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Jan-Willem van Wingerden
Delft University of Technology
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Abstract

The combined wind speed estimator and tip-speed ratio (WSE-TSR) tracking wind turbine control scheme has seen recent and increased traction from the wind industry. The modern control scheme provides a flexible trade-off between power and load objectives. In academia, the 2 controller is often used based on its simplicity and steady-state optimality and is taken as a baseline here. This paper demonstrates the steady-state equivalence and dynamic differences between these controllers and presents a systematic procedure for their optimal calibration. For calibration of the control schemes, a multi-objective optimisation problem is formulated with the conflicting objectives of power maximisation and torque fluctuations minimisation. The optimisation problem is solved by approximating the Pareto front based on the set of optimal solutions found by an explorative search. The Pareto fronts obtained for calibration of the baseline and for increasing fidelities of the WSE-TSR tracking controller show that no optimal solution exists, translating into increased power capture with respect to the baseline 2 controller. The frequency-domain analysis, however, shows increased control bandwidth for tip-speed ratio reference tracking for the solution leading to power maximisation. If the objective is to reduce the torque variance, the controller bandwidth decreases with a mild penalty on the energy yield. High-fidelity simulations confirm this trend, proving that, if properly calibrated, the WSE-TSR tracking controller obtains approximately the same generated power of the baseline while reducing torque actuation effort.