13. A Semi-active Control System for Wind Turbines

A semi-active (SA) control system based on the use of smart magnetorheological (MR) dampers to control the structural response of a wind turbine is proposed herein. The innovative approach is based on the implementation and use of a variable-properties base restraint. This is able to modify in real time its mechanical properties according to the instantaneous decision of a given control logic, the latter addressed to control one or more structural response parameters. The smart base restraint is thought to be a combination of a smooth hinge, elastic springs, large-scale adjustable MR dampers, and a control algorithm that instantaneously commands the latter during the motion, making them to modulate the reactive force as needed to achieve the performance goals. The design and operation of such a system are shown with reference to a case study consisting of an almost 100 m tall wind turbine, realized in a 1/20 scale model at the Denmark Technical University (DTU). Shaking table tests have been performed under the action of two different types of wind loads and by using two purposely written control logics, highlighting the high effectiveness of the proposed SA control technique and encouraging to further investigate in such direction.