Introduction to Wind Energy

• account for the role of wind energy in the Danish energy supply
• perform simple calculations of Cost of Energy for wind energy
• apply basic engineering models for wind speed, its distribution in time and space and determine the annual energy production for a wind turbine at a given location
• analyse measured data for a wind field and determine the mean wind speed and turbulence properties
• account for the configuration of a wind turbine and the background for the modern three-bladed wind turbine
• carry out calculations of thrust and power for a wind turbine
• determine drag and lift for a segment on the blade
• apply simple beam formulae for calculation of sectional forces and natural frequency
• describe and calculate the stiffness properties of composite materials applied in wind turbine blades
• account for the main generator types and carry out simple calculations for their operation
• describe the difference between AC and DC power and the mechanical-electrical coupling of rotor and grid

Cost of Energy, role of the electricity stock, economical feasibility. Statistical distribution of mean wind speed, the atmospheric boundary layer and velocity profile, turbulence and the terrains influence on the local wind conditions, annual production. Methods for wind measurement. The evolution of wind turbine technology, the components of a wind turbine. 1D momentum theory for flow through the rotor, maximum energy yield, thrust and power coefficient, the velocity triangle for a wind turbine blade, the principle behind the BEM method. Simple beam-formulae for the tower motion, natural frequency and structural resonance, sectional forces and moments in blades and tower. Galileis square-cube law for stresses, design/choice of composite materials, use of metals in wind turbines and fatigue of metals and composites. Generator types and their working principle, the mechanical-electrical coupling between rotor and grid, transmission, the balancing problem on the grid. Introduction to advanced courses and research in wind energy.

01005/41312/41102/41501

Lectures, exercises and reports

The course consists of a mix of lectures, hands-on exercises and report work.