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Wind Topics @ BruWind Research Groups

Noise & Vibration
Research group: Acoustics and Vibration AVRG Topics: Operational Modal Parameter Estimation, Load and Source Identification, Structural Health Monitoring, Advanced measurement techniques

Strength & Materials

Research group: Mechanics of Materials and Constructions MEMC Topics: Composite materials, Biaxial Material Behavior, Subcomponent testing

Aerodynamics and Aeroelastics

Research group: Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics FTRG Topics: CFD simulation over complex terrains, Wind Farm Optimization Simulation of individual wind turbines Research group: Industrile Wetenschappen en Technologie IWT Topics: Siting studies en wind resource assessment using CFD and wind measurements

Sensors and measurement techniques

Research group: Electrochemical and Surface Engineering SURF Topics: Corrosion management Corrosion sensors Research group: Vakgroep Toegepaste Natuurkunde & Fotonica - TONA Topics: Optical Fiber Sensors 2

Wind Topics @ BruWind Research Groups

Generator, Power Electronics, Grid Integration
Research group: Electrical Engineering and Power Electronics ETEC Topics: Monitoring, Grid intergration

Control Systems and Automation

Research group: MECH Topics: Controle algorithms

Environmental Issues
Research group: Acoustics and Vibration AVRG Topics: Noise Pollution

Trading Energy, Wind energy Economics

Research group: Bedrijfseconomie en strategisch beleid - BEDR Topics: Wind energy Economics

AVRG Research Dynamic Behavior of Wind Turbines

Operational Modal Parameter Identification
GOAL S: Development of OMA techniques using transmissibility measurements Development of Operational Modal Analysis with Exogenous inputs Development of OMA solutions for non white-noise excitations and harmonics 1P, 3P, .. Project: Operational Modal Analysis using transmissibility measurements (FWO Christof Devriendt)

Transmissibility Function is a ratio between 2 responses measured during a certain loading condition

AVRG Research Load and Source Identification

Load and Source Identification
GOALS: Identifying time-varying wind loads on structures from in situ vibration response data using inverse methods Identifying acoustic sources on structures from in situ pressure data using inverse methods Project: Inverse identification of wind loads on structures (FWO project ism KULeuven)

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AVRG Research Structural Health Monitoring

Structural Health Monitoring of Wind Turbines
GOALS: Acquiring and testing state of the art monitoring systems e.g. fiber optic sensors Development of advanced data processing techniques SHM of blades, towers and foundations using OMA and Transmissibility measurements Project: Offshore Wind Infrastructure Project (IWT project ism Sirris)

The development of an algorithm for structural health monitoring during changing operational forces using distributed sensor networks transmissibility functions as primary data

AVRG Research Advanced measurement techniques

Long distant LDV
Non-contact measurement, visualization and analysis of structural vibrations Long distant LDV can measure up to a distant of 200m Potential in the fields of modal analysis testing and structural health monitoring of wind turbines In combination with Modal Analysis software a strong tool to determine the resonate frequencies, damping factors and mode shapes

CFD FTRG Research Complex Terrains Simulations over CFD simulations over complex terrains
CFD is used to predict the wind over complex terrains

Work together with Von Karman Institute

COOLFluiD code (http://cooluidsrv.vki.ac.be/trac/cooluid)
RANS approach with wall functions
unstructured grids

New Meshing Strategies (unstructured grids)

Wind Flow over complex terrains

CFD FTRG Research Complex Terrains Simulations over Wind Farm Optimization
Work together with Von Karman Institute
Optimization based on

CFD simulations (COOLFluiD)
Wind turbines modeled using actuator disk
Neural networks
Genetic algorithms
Robust optimization using non-deterministic methods

wo optimizations are considered

T Wind farm layout: positioning of wind turbines in the farm

Wind farm control: power setting of individual turbines for  max wind farm production
Wind Farm Layout optimization Wind Farm Control optimization

NOT acceptable layout

Acceptable layout

CFD FTRG Research Complex Terrains Simulations over Simulation of individual wind turbines
Full 3D CFD simulations of individual wind turbines
prediction of power curve
optimization of blades for improved efciency
RANS or LES modeling

Simulation of NREL windturbine: V=7m/s; Re=4E6

Streamlines of the flow on the blade

Massive separations near blade root

MEMC Research in the field of Wind Biaxial Material Behavior

Biaxial behavior in e.g. wind tubine blade Biaxial test method at MeMC Cruciform specimen design

Glassfibre reinforced epoxy material Layup frequently used for wind turbine blades (LM Glassfibre) => Experimental data needed In-plane loading of cruciform specimen

MEMC Research in the field of Wind Subcomponent testing

Tests at the moment : small coupon tests or real blade tests Flanges, web, bondlines

sandwich

Blade root

Aim = tests at mid-scale => subcomponent tests 4-point bending and cantilever tests on Ibeams to test bonding in real blade
C. Ramault1, A. Makris1, D. Van Hemelrijck1, E. Lamkanfi2, W. Van Paepegem2 Optimat Blades Project & Upwind Project Acoustics & Vibration Research Group

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

SURF Research Corrosion management

prediction
- Potential model (distribution), together with Elsyca (SURF Spin-off) - Including cathodic protection (CP) predictions - Possibility to integrate specific corrosion effects (local corrosion, galvanic coupling) - Influence of liquid film on structure - Influence of evolving splash zone

validation
- Sensor to detect and quantify corrosion taking place on structure - Continuous and in-line monitoring (condition monitoring) - Can be coupled with CP to reduce CP cost - Used to schedule repainting / repair cycles - Can cover specific targets or general structure

Prototype

SURF Research Corrosion sensors

Based on EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy)

interpretation step eliminated

SOIB (Spin-Off in Brussels) project started
in 2009
goal to establish spin-off to produce / distribute a corrosion sensor in 2013

TONA RESEARCH Microstructured optical fiber sensors

Microstructured optical fiber sensors successfully embedded in carbon-fiber reinforced polymer

We achieved

Transversal load sensitivity of our sensor is 10x larger than in state-of-the-art fibers

Highly improved transverse load

sensitivity
Insensitivity to temperature
Industrially relevant sensor performance for CFRPs

EhB Research Wind Energy Micro-siting

Determine optimal location for turbine(s) on given site Especially complex terrain, incl. (semi-)built environment

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EhB Research Wind Energy Micro-siting

CFD: Mainly OpenFOAM Site geometry from google earth, geographical data, + total station measurements

EhB Research Wind Energy Micro-siting

Wind measurements 2D cup and 3D ultrasonic

Combined with historical wind data, power curves of wind turbines resource assessment

EhB Research Wind Energy Aero-elasticity

Modal analysis FSI, frequency lock-in Flutter prediction methods

EhB Research Wind Energy Flow control

Load alleviation through smart blades (flaps, micro-tabs, vortex generators, ...) CFD and experimental

Ongoing Projects in the field of Wind

Project: Offshore Wind Infrastrcutere Project Wind (IWT project ism Sirris)
Domain: Monitoring van Offshore Wind Turbines - CMS - O&M Research group: Acoustics and Vibration - AVRG Contact Person: Patrick Guillaume, Christof Devriendt

Project: UpWind is a European project funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).
Domain: Composite materials for large blades Research group: Mechanics of Materials and Constructions - MEMC Contact Person:Danny Van Hemelrijck

Project: Wind Farm Optimization Based on CFD Modeling and Simulations (ism VKI)
Domain: CFD van Wind Farms en Wind Turbines Research group: Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics - FTRG Contact Person: Chris Lacor

Project: Inverse identification of wind loads on structures (FWO project ism KULeuven)
Domain: Load and source indentification Research group: Acoustics and Vibration - AVRG Contact Person: Patrick Guillaume

Ongoing Projects in the field of Wind

Project: Gebruik van microwindturbines voor het leveren van hernieuwbare energie aan particulieren en kleine bedrijven (IWT Tetra project)
Domain: Ontwerp nieuwe concepten kleine Wind TurbinesOnderzoeksgroep: Research group: Mechanica Mech Contact Person: Mark Runacres, Tim De Troyer

Project: EMOVO Multidisciplinair onderzoeks- en vormings-centrum rond energie en milieu technologieen

Domain: creatie van een multidisciplinair ontwikkellings- en vormings-centrum rond energie-en milieutechnologien Research group: Department Mechanica Mech Contact Person: Mark Runacres, Tim De Troyer

Contact:
Dr. ir. Christof Devriendt Vrije Universiteit Brussel | Pleinlaan 2 | B-1050 Brussel | Belgium Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | Acoustics & Vibration Research Group
23 Tel. +32 2 6292390 | Fax +32 2 6292865 | GSM +32 477412049

Mail: christof.devriendt@vub.ac.be