Evaluation of the Power Output Performance Improvement of a 2 MW Wind Turbine

¹ Mechanical Engineering Dept., Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
² Green Energy and Environment Lab., Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan
³ Mechanical and System Engineering Program, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Taiwan

^* Corresponding author: dofliu@stust.edu.tw

Abstract

This paper shows the possibility of the output improvement to a large wind turbine, so the operator can earn more and thus reduce the overall cost of energy. For a modern wind turbine certificated by IEC or DNV-GL guidelines, a 20 years design lifetime is a base line. However, the efficiency of the turbine will degrade after 8 or 9 years’ operating. Some components, especially the turning blade, the efficiency may vary due to the surface condition change. Meanwhile, the controller technology may also have been improved after years. So, the turbine can regain its original output or even have a better output performance through some adjustments. In this paper, a 2 MW wind turbine with different design and operating parameters like blade efficiency, wind direction alignment, high/low wind control strategy has been evaluated, then with the software DNV-GL BLADED simulation, to calculate the output differences and availability of the turbine. The result shown that a 3~5% yield annually can be obtained for each improved parameter in a 9 m/s mean wind speed situation.