Load Estimation of a Wind Turbine Support Structure during Operation and Validation by Measurement

Abstract

In this study, numerical simulation for the load estimation on the support structures of wind turbine during operation was validated by measurement and the load characteristics of the support structure were investigated. Following results were obtained. The simulation shows good agreement with the measurement in terms of fore-aft tower base moment. The gain scheduling has to be modelled appropriately for the accurate estimation of fore-aft tower base moment. The fore-aft moment on the tower shows maximum value at rated wind speed at the base of the tower, while at the tower top, the maximum load is observed at the cut-out wind speed.