Master - Thesis
Field Testing of a Model Predictive Controller for
Wind Turbines
Supervisors:
David Schlipf (SWE/NREL), Steffen Raach (SWE), Alan Wright (NREL)
schlipf/[email protected]
+1 720 416 2612 (MDT) / +49 711 685- 68303 (CET)
Current lidar technology is offering a promising opportunity to take a fresh look at wind
turbine control. The control group of the SWE at the University of Stuttgart together
with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Boulder, USA performed
the world’s first control of a wind turbine with a nacelle-based lidar system in 2012.
In the first field testing, the wind preview provided by lidar systems was used along
with a nonlinear feedforward controller to adjust the collective blade pitch angle to
compensate the changing wind conditions and thus reduce the rotor speed variation.
Several model predictive controllers (MPCs) have been developed over the last years
at the SWE and showed promising results in simulations. Additional to the improved
rotor speed regulation, further reduction in structural loads on the turbine’s tower and
blades can be achieved by integrating the wind preview in the optimization process
of a MPC controlling simultaneously the blade pitch angle and the generator torque.
NREL and SWE are currently cooperating to implement advanced lidar-assisted controllers on the
Controls Advanced Research Turbines (CARTs), mid-scale turbines with 40 m rotor diameter. During
the wind season 2014/2015, pionieering test with MPC are planned. In the scope of a master thesis, a
MPC shall be designed based on existing code and a hardware-in-the-loop test needs to be performed.
In a next step, the controller will be applied to a CART and adjusted based on the experimental results.
The thesis will start in Stuttgart, the field testing will take place at the National Wind Technology Center
(NWTC) in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The finalization of the thesis is planned again in Stuttgart. The
supervision will be done in a close collaboration of SWE and NREL.
Recommended workflow:
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literature study, orientation, conception (SWE)
controller design and hardware-in-the-loop test (SWE/NREL)
field tests (NREL)
evaluation, documentation, presentation (SWE)
Very good knowledge in control and signal processing is required. Knowledge in wind energy would be
advantageous. The work is related to current research projects and publications.
Duration: 6 Month, Location: SWE - Boulder (3 month) – SWE, Start: ASAP.