PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | April 27, 2007
Proc. SPIE. 6525, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2007
KEYWORDS: Actuators, LabVIEW, Sensors, Control systems, Wind turbine technology, Microcontrollers, Wind energy, Servomechanisms, Motion controllers, CFD analysis
In this paper, a research for the effectiveness enhancement of a Cycloidal Wind Turbine by individual active control of
blade motion is described. To improve the performance of the power generation system, which consists of several
straight blades rotating about axis in parallel direction, the cycloidal blade system and the individual active blade control
method are adopted. It has advantages comparing with horizontal axis wind turbine or conventional vertical axis wind
turbine because it maintains optimal blade pitch angles according to wind speed, wind direction and rotor rotating speed
to produce high electric power at any conditions. It can do self-starting and shows good efficiency at low wind speed and
complex wind condition. Optimal blade pitch angle paths are obtained through CFD analysis according to rotor rotating
speed and wind speed. The individual rotor blade control system consists of sensors, actuators and microcontroller. To
realize the actuating device, servo motors are installed to each rotor blade. Actuating speed and actuating force are
calculated to compare with the capacities of servo motor, and some delays of blade pitch angles are corrected
experimentally. Performance experiment is carried out by the wind blowing equipment and Labview system, and the
rotor rotates from 50 to 100 rpm according to the electric load. From this research, it is concluded that developing new
vertical axis wind turbine, Cycloidal Wind Turbine which is adopting individual active blade pitch control method can be
a good model for small wind turbine in urban environment.
