From passive to active pitch regulation of wind turbines: Optimization method with numerical validation

Abstract

An optimization method that changes the control strategy of the Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) from passive- to active-pitch has been developed. The method aims to keep the rated power constant by adjusting the blade pitch angle while matching the rotor and the drive torques. The method is applied to an optimized wind turbine model. Further, numerical simulations were performed to validate the developed method and for further investigations of the flow behavior over the blades.