Influence of Wind Turbulence on Yaw-control Gears in Wind Turbine

Abstract

This paper describes an influence of wind turbulence on yaw-control gears of nacelle in a wind power station. This site is located in Tappi cape of Aomori prefecture where is characterized by a big wind turbulence due to the western strong wind and a steep slope of the cape. In this paper two adjacent wind towers are dealt with among eleven ones. To clarify an influence of the wind turbulence on the leeward wind power generator. The measurement results showed that the turbulence and the standard deviation exceeded IEC Wind Turbine Standards frequently. Accordingly the torque applied to the yaw control gears vibrated with short time period and its magnitude was frequently larger than 4.8 ton-m (47kN-m) regarded as the metal fatigue limit. By the method where the output of the wind turbine generator is controlled, the magnitude of the vibrating torque can be reduced under the limit of the material fatigue.