Conceptual Design of a DOT

Generator Station

PO. 98

D. Michailidis, N.F.B. Diepeveen

Delft University of Technology

Abstract

Transmission concept

The Delft Offshore Turbine (DOT) is a DUWIND research project that focuses on
reducing the cost of offshore wind energy by bringing a radical change in offshore
wind turbine technology. The main concept is to centralize electricity generation by
having individual wind turbines create a flow of pressurized seawater to a
hydropower station. The idea behind the DOT is that the high power to weight ratio
from hydraulic drive systems gives the opportunity for a reduced nacelle mass and
increased reliability of components by eliminating the use of individual gear trains,
generators and power electronics. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this project is not
only to suggest an efficient way of exploiting offshore wind but to present a cost
efficient assembly.
The development of the hydraulic drive
train of the individual turbines has been
studied over the last 3 years. Through
scale model validation of 10kW and 1MW
machines, the computer models have
been refined and the physics of the
hydraulic flows is better understood. This
paper builds on these results and shows
the working of these systems on a wind
farm level. By modelling the individual
turbine flows and the central conversion
station, the overall system efficiency is
presented. The model is built up for a
North Sea site with 5MW DOT turbines
with a total installed capacity of 1GW.
Next to the modelling of the in-field flow,
the central hydropower station is
designed and detailed in this paper.

Centralised electricity
generation through fluid power
transmission of a 1GW DOT
wind farm (200x5MW DOTs)
Operating conditions and sizing
500
450
400

Power [MW]

300

Figure 3: Volumetric flow rate in relation to the number of

hydro turbines in the 1GW DOT farm

250
200

Figure 4: Sizing of turbine in relation to the number of hydro

turbines in the 1GW DOT farm

150
100

DOT
Mechanical
Hydraulic
hydraulic
transmission
energy
energy

Mechanical
Hydro turbine

Generator

Electrical
energy

5
6
7
8
Number of hydro turbines in farm

Figure 5: Sizing of generator in relation to the number of

hydro turbines in the 1GW DOT farm

10

Figure 1

energy

900

80
24-pole generator
30-pole generator
40-pole generator

800

70
75
70

600

65
60

500
55

The objective is to Design the DOT wind farm generator station conceptually,
which analyses to:

Defining the transmission concept of the generator station

Specifying the operating conditions range

Sizing the hydro turbine generator assembly for different scenarios

400
50

p [bar]

700

Pressure,

Head, Hn [m]

Generator station

Objectives

40
10

10

5
6
7
8
Number of hydro turbines in farm

Specific speed (rad)

Head (m)
Maximum power output (MW)
Optimum efficiency (%)

The specific speed of a hydro turbine suggests the most suitable machine for an
application.
Different types of machines are characterised by a different value of specific
speed.
If the specific speed is
defined, the machine design
that gives maximum efficiency
can be determined.
Each machine type has its
optimum efficiency within its
own narrow range of specific
speed.

5
6
7
8
Number of hydro turbines in farm

10

Fd=25kN/m2

24-pole generator
30-pole generator
40-pole generator

350

250

Mervento 3.6-118
electrical station
220m3

300

200

5
6
7
8
Number of hydro turbines in farm

10

4
24-pole generator
30-pole generator
40-pole generator

3.5

Drunner [m]

300

Generator rotor volume [m3]

Djet [mm]

Kaplan turbine
1.8 5.0
6 70
300
94

Figure 3

250

Francis turbine
0.4 2.2
20 900
800
95

30

200

400

Pelton turbine
0.05 0.4
100 1770
500
90

40

20

450

The DOT concept requires high power to weight ratio and high efficiency using
mature technology for all of its components. Pelton turbines are the most suitable
choice as they operate at highest head than any other hydraulic turbine. In this
way, the most compact transfer of power is achieved.

50

45

Figure 2

Why Pelton turbines?

60

300

24-pole generator
30-pole generator
40-pole generator

80

Volumetric flow rate, Q [m3/s]

Rotor

Figure 2: Operating head in relation to the number of hydro

turbines in the 1GW DOT farm

350

50

Wind
Energy

Figure 1: Power output in relation to the number of hydro

turbines in the 1GW DOT farm

rotor power
hydraulic power
mechanical power
electric power

200

Fd=30kN/m2
Fd=35kN/m2
Fd=40kN/m2
Fd=45kN/m2
Fd=50kN/m2

150

100

2.5

50

2
1.5

Figure 4

5
6
7
8
Number of hydro turbines in farm

10

5
6
7
8
Number of hydro turbines in farm

10

Figure 5

Conclusions
The DOT opens the coming era of large scale offshore wind projects. This paper
investigates the way to shift and adopt the practices of hydropower technology
into offshore wind, in a cost effective and efficient manner. The technology to
centralise electricity generation by concentrating the flow coming from individual
DOTs is mature enough and once the DOT hydraulic transmission is
materialised, the implementation of such a project is possible.

References

Hydro turbine efficiencies in relation to specific speed [1]

1. S.L. Dixon and C.A. Hall. Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery. Elsevier Inc., USA, 2010.
2. J. Thake. The micro-hydro pelton turbine manual: design, manufacture and installation for small-scale hydro-power.
ITDG Publishing, 2000.

EWEA OFFSHORE 2011, 29 November 1 December 2011 , Amsterdam, The Netherlands