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These innovative 'hybrid' connections consist of a steel plate, potentially with spikes added for additional locking, embedded in a composite. A potential benefit of this configuration is that e.g. composite ship skin panels can be joined using standard welding. The goal of this evaluation project was to investigate the influence of welding-induced heat on the composite-steel connection.
07-04-2016 Wieringerwerf
As part of the blade test program, the flapwise fatigue test was performed at the first flapwise resonance frequency of the blade (see video). Both the range and average of the bending moment distribution are controlled during the test by using two hydraulic actuators. The rotor blade is used in the EWT DW61 direct drive wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 61 m
For more information about this wind turbine please visit the website from EWT.
The material knowledge and research of both organizations are complementary to each other and cover a large range of material related aspects. The new cooperation supports the industry from initial design to application and makes the unique knowledge infrastructure of both organizations available for this purpose.
Continue reading (in Dutch)...
In order to investigate soil behaviour, with the ultimate goal to improve offshore support structure design and reduce the cost of offshore wind energy, the monopile shaker is used in field tests on foundations of the Westermeerwind Wind Farm.
Continue reading...
The EAWE encourage the international wind energy community to discuss this research agenda and propose changes and missing topics. WMC's program developer Rogier Nijssen has contributed to the materials and structures part of this agenda. The full text of the publication is available from this link.
Ben Hendriks has a long track record in wind energy. Graduated in Mechanical engineering, he started working on testing full scale rotor blades in 1991. He worked in different research and managerial roles for ECN, WindMaster, and Garrad Hassan (now DNV-GL). With our new director, we look forward to a successful continued cooperation with our clients and partners.
The picture below shows the climate chamber and the measurement table.
The climate chamber offers flexibility, as large mechanical test set-ups can be installed inside this chamber. All necessary facilities (such as hydraulics, electricity, heating, cooling and data-acquisition equipment) for performing measurements to our high standards are available inside the climate chamber. It is also possible to monitor ongoing measurements via video capture equipment inside the climate chamber. An example of a pipe bending fatigue test set-up placed inside the climate chamber is shown below.
Customers interested to have tests performed in this climate chamber, or would like to receive more information about it, are referred to the contact details below.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
As part of the product development and certification procedure, a number of structural tests were performed on a rotor blade for PAL-V's hybrid car and gyroplane.
Quasi static tests were successfully performed in WMC's large test frame, which can accommodate specimens of up to ca. 5 m and loads of up to 350 tonnes. Different load cases were applied, simulating the centrifugal (axial) load and bending moments on the rotor blade.
The first PAL-V's are planned to be delivered in 2017. See also PAL-V company webite and on
Youtube.
Photo: www.PAL-V.com
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
Testing at WMC was carried out according to the IEC-61400-23 test protocol.
For details on this rotor blade and its specific applications, see www.eno-energy-com.
For information on rotor blade testing, please contact Ton Veltkamp, managing director of WMC (a.c.veltkamp@wmc.eu) or info@wmc.eu
.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
The WMC material research team, represented by Francisco Lahuerta, Iuri Barcelos and Sibrand Raijmaekers, contributed with three oral presentations based on submitted scientific papers. The works by Iuri and Sibrand focused on the natural and accelerated ageing of composite materials, while the one by Francisco dealt with characterization of thick laminates.
In the work presented by Francisco Lahuerta, titled "Static and Dynamic Through Thickness Lamina Properties of Thick Laminates", the through-thickness variation of mechanical properties in 60 to 70 mm thick laminates is analysed both statically and in fatigue by using a novel technique to divide the full laminate in sub-laminates.
With a work titled "Hydrothermal Ageing of Glass/Epoxy Composites for Wind Turbine Blades"), Iuri Barcelos focused on material degradation of glass/epoxy composites brought by exposure to hot/wet environments. In order to specifically assess the impact of water ingression on the fibre/matrix interphase, the mechanical behaviour of composite and neat resin specimens were compared before and after immersion in water at 50°C.
Also dealing with material degradation after exposure to extreme environments, Sibrand Raijmaekers presented a work titled "Effects of Temperature on Static and Fatigue Strength of Wind Turbine Composites", which describes the mechanical behaviour of wind turbine composite materials after exposure to elevated temperatures. Damage mechanisms such as physical ageing and thermal stresses were described and analysed.
The works were well received by the attending audience, and interesting discussion sessions were held after the presentations. Furthermore, interesting ideas for future research and development within WMC were collected based on contributions brought up by other participants.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
The meetings are open for everyone, but registration is required because the number of attendencies is limited.
The following topics will be discussed: 'Long-term protection of steel offshore structures: is that possible?; 'Material Failure after Hydrothermal
Ageing of Glass/Epoxy Composites for
Wind Turbine Blades'; 'Testing Methods for Thick
Laminates and Fracture models Calibrations' and 'Oil filter analyses prevent damage'.
For more details, including how to attend the meeting, see the programme leaflet (in Dutch).
Public summary
Title: S4VAWT "Semi-Submersible Support Structure for floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine"
Motivation
In large areas in the world, water depth will require floating wind energy, for which vertical axis wind turbines should be more cost-effective than horizontal axis turbines. An international consortium is designing an offshore wind farm using vertical axis turbines, for which an innovative semi-submersible floater is needed.
Project goal
The S4VAWT project aims at developing a cost effective floating support structure for a vertical axis wind turbine. The ground-breaking technology is specifically designed for far offshore conditions and sets a new industry standard by combining a large scale floating VAWT with pitched blades mounted on a semi-submersible floater.
Brief description of activities
The Dutch consortium, consisting of GustoMSC, ECN, TUDelft, WMC and MARIN, will develop the semi-submersible floater for the vertical axis wind turbine and is supported by the French company EOLFI. This semi-submersible floater with vertical axis wind turbine will be a competitive concept for floating offshore wind power, because of the integral design approach for floater and mooring system.
In the project the optimum size and shape is determined together with the estimation of weight and costs. In order to reach a safe, reliable and cost-effective floating support structure, the performance of the design in combined wind and waves will be verified by state-of-the-art numerical simulations. To enable integral design and optimization of the support structure, the required tools for design and analysis of floating VAWTs will be developed, building on existing knowledge on floating horizontal axis wind turbines.
Result
The innovative design aims towards a low steel weight of the floater, at least 15% reduction of steel
weight-to-power ratio compared to floaters for horizontal axis turbines. The market potential of floating
wind power is larger than for bottom-fixed offshore wind; the technology is intended to become an
export product.
Contact
For more information on WMC's R&D program, please contact Rogier Nijssen, program developer of WMC (r.p.l.nijssen or at info@wmc.eu). For more information on the TKI-S4VAWT project, see www.tki-windopzee.nl.
Project partners
GustoMSC
ECN
Knowledge Centre WMC
MARIN
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
The aim of the SLOWIND project is the development of more efficient (embedded) monitoring systems to detect, localize and quantify damage in the rotor blades. This system will replace costly inspections and prevents unexpected downtime of the turbines, while adding prognostic capability, leading to a reduction in the cost of wind energy.
The structural health of the wind turbine blades depends on the effects of fatigue, lightning and impacts, leading to delamination and cracks, erosion of the blade surface and failure of adhesive joints. To enable effective detection of these types of blade damage, the present project starts with the detailed characterization of typical failures in composite rotor blades, including damage progression modelling. Then two monitoring approaches are developed: load monitoring by embedded fiber optic sensors and structural health monitoring by a distributed network of piezo sensors. The developed sensing concepts are then demonstrated and validated on both coupons and full scale test articles.
Finally, the two types of sensor networks will be integrated and prognostic methods will be proposed. At the end of the project, a concept for advanced blade monitoring and prognostics based on a combination of fiber optic sensors and distributed piezo sensors will be available and its feasibility has been tested on laboratory scale as well as on full scale objects.
The role of WMC in this project is to develop and validate models that contribute to better understanding of degradation/failure mechanisms, leading to better materials and design in the future and higher energy yields from the wind turbine.
The SLOWIND project will be finished by the end of 2018.
For more information on WMC's R&D program, please contact Rogier Nijssen, program developer of WMC (r.p.l.nijssen or at info@wmc.eu). For more information on the TKI-SLOWIND project, see www.tki-windopzee.nl.
Project partners
TNO
Knowledge Centre WMC
University of Twente
Pontis Engineering
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
Situation
Offshore wind turbine towers are typically manufactured as a hollow steel structure. Offshore steel structures are heavy structures and need to be severely designed against corrosion. Composite materials offer significant advantages compared to metal or thermoplastics like light weight, low maintenance and high strength. Composite materials are well suited for environments in which the materials are placed in extreme conditions such as toxic, salt, moist environments and environments with large changes in temperature.
Goal
The present project aims to demonstrate feasibility of replacing the steel tower by a fibre reinforced composite structure, with the aim of reducing maintance and thereby the life cycle cost of the entire wind turbine. Production costs will be reduced by using automated production techniques.
Activities
A composite windturbine tower will be developed. This will come to pass by several work packages executed in different phases as:
Engineering, which concerns the phase where WMC and Jules Dock Composites will take care of engineering and production design. Both the tower and a Conceptual design of hybrid connections. The final composite laminate will be designed. Also a design verification according to guidelines by DNV-GL will be part of the engineering phase. Jules Dock Composites will investigate several production methods to find out which is best suited for the composite turbine tower. A prototype of a scaled turbine tower will be manufactured. The critical details of the prototype will be mechanically tested in the laboratory of WMC. When there are any improvements the turbine tower will be re-designed. To estimate costs and impact on logistics and maintenance WIND2020 will produce a life cycle analysis.
Result
A full demonstration of the feasibility of the composite tower is out of the scope of this project. This project is aimed at generating confidence in the feasibility of the concept. It gives a clear estimate of the achievable cost reduction and serves as input for a subsequent demonstration project.
Project partners
Wind2020
Jules Dock Composites
Knowledge Centre WMC
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
07-04-2016 Wieringerwerf
As part of the blade test program, the flapwise fatigue test was performed at the first flapwise resonance frequency of the blade (see video). Both the range and average of the bending moment distribution are controlled during the test by using two hydraulic actuators. The rotor blade is used in the EWT DW61 direct drive wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 61 m
For more information about this wind turbine please visit the website from EWT.
The material knowledge and research of both organizations are complementary to each other and cover a large range of material related aspects. The new cooperation supports the industry from initial design to application and makes the unique knowledge infrastructure of both organizations available for this purpose.
Continue reading (in Dutch)...
In order to investigate soil behaviour, with the ultimate goal to improve offshore support structure design and reduce the cost of offshore wind energy, the monopile shaker is used in field tests on foundations of the Westermeerwind Wind Farm.
Continue reading...
The EAWE encourage the international wind energy community to discuss this research agenda and propose changes and missing topics. WMC's program developer Rogier Nijssen has contributed to the materials and structures part of this agenda. The full text of the publication is available from this link.
Ben Hendriks has a long track record in wind energy. Graduated in Mechanical engineering, he started working on testing full scale rotor blades in 1991. He worked in different research and managerial roles for ECN, WindMaster, and Garrad Hassan (now DNV-GL). With our new director, we look forward to a successful continued cooperation with our clients and partners.
The picture below shows the climate chamber and the measurement table.
The climate chamber offers flexibility, as large mechanical test set-ups can be installed inside this chamber. All necessary facilities (such as hydraulics, electricity, heating, cooling and data-acquisition equipment) for performing measurements to our high standards are available inside the climate chamber. It is also possible to monitor ongoing measurements via video capture equipment inside the climate chamber. An example of a pipe bending fatigue test set-up placed inside the climate chamber is shown below.
Customers interested to have tests performed in this climate chamber, or would like to receive more information about it, are referred to the contact details below.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
As part of the product development and certification procedure, a number of structural tests were performed on a rotor blade for PAL-V's hybrid car and gyroplane. Quasi static tests were successfully performed in WMC's large test frame, which can accommodate specimens of up to ca. 5 m and loads of up to 350 tonnes. Different load cases were applied, simulating the centrifugal (axial) load and bending moments on the rotor blade.
The first PAL-V's are planned to be delivered in 2017. See also PAL-V company webite and on Youtube.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
Testing at WMC was carried out according to the IEC-61400-23 test protocol.
For details on this rotor blade and its specific applications, see www.eno-energy-com.
For information on rotor blade testing, please contact Ton Veltkamp, managing director of WMC (a.c.veltkamp@wmc.eu) or info@wmc.eu
.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
The WMC material research team, represented by Francisco Lahuerta, Iuri Barcelos and Sibrand Raijmaekers, contributed with three oral presentations based on submitted scientific papers. The works by Iuri and Sibrand focused on the natural and accelerated ageing of composite materials, while the one by Francisco dealt with characterization of thick laminates. In the work presented by Francisco Lahuerta, titled "Static and Dynamic Through Thickness Lamina Properties of Thick Laminates", the through-thickness variation of mechanical properties in 60 to 70 mm thick laminates is analysed both statically and in fatigue by using a novel technique to divide the full laminate in sub-laminates.
With a work titled "Hydrothermal Ageing of Glass/Epoxy Composites for Wind Turbine Blades"), Iuri Barcelos focused on material degradation of glass/epoxy composites brought by exposure to hot/wet environments. In order to specifically assess the impact of water ingression on the fibre/matrix interphase, the mechanical behaviour of composite and neat resin specimens were compared before and after immersion in water at 50°C.
Also dealing with material degradation after exposure to extreme environments, Sibrand Raijmaekers presented a work titled "Effects of Temperature on Static and Fatigue Strength of Wind Turbine Composites", which describes the mechanical behaviour of wind turbine composite materials after exposure to elevated temperatures. Damage mechanisms such as physical ageing and thermal stresses were described and analysed.
The works were well received by the attending audience, and interesting discussion sessions were held after the presentations. Furthermore, interesting ideas for future research and development within WMC were collected based on contributions brought up by other participants.
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
The meetings are open for everyone, but registration is required because the number of attendencies is limited.
The following topics will be discussed: 'Long-term protection of steel offshore structures: is that possible?; 'Material Failure after Hydrothermal Ageing of Glass/Epoxy Composites for Wind Turbine Blades'; 'Testing Methods for Thick Laminates and Fracture models Calibrations' and 'Oil filter analyses prevent damage'. For more details, including how to attend the meeting, see the programme leaflet (in Dutch).
Public summary
Title: S4VAWT "Semi-Submersible Support Structure for floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine"Motivation
In large areas in the world, water depth will require floating wind energy, for which vertical axis wind turbines should be more cost-effective than horizontal axis turbines. An international consortium is designing an offshore wind farm using vertical axis turbines, for which an innovative semi-submersible floater is needed.
Project goal
The S4VAWT project aims at developing a cost effective floating support structure for a vertical axis wind turbine. The ground-breaking technology is specifically designed for far offshore conditions and sets a new industry standard by combining a large scale floating VAWT with pitched blades mounted on a semi-submersible floater.
Brief description of activities
The Dutch consortium, consisting of GustoMSC, ECN, TUDelft, WMC and MARIN, will develop the semi-submersible floater for the vertical axis wind turbine and is supported by the French company EOLFI. This semi-submersible floater with vertical axis wind turbine will be a competitive concept for floating offshore wind power, because of the integral design approach for floater and mooring system. In the project the optimum size and shape is determined together with the estimation of weight and costs. In order to reach a safe, reliable and cost-effective floating support structure, the performance of the design in combined wind and waves will be verified by state-of-the-art numerical simulations. To enable integral design and optimization of the support structure, the required tools for design and analysis of floating VAWTs will be developed, building on existing knowledge on floating horizontal axis wind turbines.
Result
The innovative design aims towards a low steel weight of the floater, at least 15% reduction of steel weight-to-power ratio compared to floaters for horizontal axis turbines. The market potential of floating wind power is larger than for bottom-fixed offshore wind; the technology is intended to become an export product.
Contact
For more information on WMC's R&D program, please contact Rogier Nijssen, program developer of WMC (r.p.l.nijssen or at info@wmc.eu). For more information on the TKI-S4VAWT project, see www.tki-windopzee.nl.
Project partners
GustoMSCECN
Knowledge Centre WMC
MARIN
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
The aim of the SLOWIND project is the development of more efficient (embedded) monitoring systems to detect, localize and quantify damage in the rotor blades. This system will replace costly inspections and prevents unexpected downtime of the turbines, while adding prognostic capability, leading to a reduction in the cost of wind energy.
The structural health of the wind turbine blades depends on the effects of fatigue, lightning and impacts, leading to delamination and cracks, erosion of the blade surface and failure of adhesive joints. To enable effective detection of these types of blade damage, the present project starts with the detailed characterization of typical failures in composite rotor blades, including damage progression modelling. Then two monitoring approaches are developed: load monitoring by embedded fiber optic sensors and structural health monitoring by a distributed network of piezo sensors. The developed sensing concepts are then demonstrated and validated on both coupons and full scale test articles.
Finally, the two types of sensor networks will be integrated and prognostic methods will be proposed. At the end of the project, a concept for advanced blade monitoring and prognostics based on a combination of fiber optic sensors and distributed piezo sensors will be available and its feasibility has been tested on laboratory scale as well as on full scale objects.
The role of WMC in this project is to develop and validate models that contribute to better understanding of degradation/failure mechanisms, leading to better materials and design in the future and higher energy yields from the wind turbine.
The SLOWIND project will be finished by the end of 2018.
For more information on WMC's R&D program, please contact Rogier Nijssen, program developer of WMC (r.p.l.nijssen or at info@wmc.eu). For more information on the TKI-SLOWIND project, see www.tki-windopzee.nl.
Project partners
TNOKnowledge Centre WMC
University of Twente
Pontis Engineering
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
Situation
Offshore wind turbine towers are typically manufactured as a hollow steel structure. Offshore steel structures are heavy structures and need to be severely designed against corrosion. Composite materials offer significant advantages compared to metal or thermoplastics like light weight, low maintenance and high strength. Composite materials are well suited for environments in which the materials are placed in extreme conditions such as toxic, salt, moist environments and environments with large changes in temperature.
Goal
The present project aims to demonstrate feasibility of replacing the steel tower by a fibre reinforced composite structure, with the aim of reducing maintance and thereby the life cycle cost of the entire wind turbine. Production costs will be reduced by using automated production techniques.
Activities
A composite windturbine tower will be developed. This will come to pass by several work packages executed in different phases as: Engineering, which concerns the phase where WMC and Jules Dock Composites will take care of engineering and production design. Both the tower and a Conceptual design of hybrid connections. The final composite laminate will be designed. Also a design verification according to guidelines by DNV-GL will be part of the engineering phase. Jules Dock Composites will investigate several production methods to find out which is best suited for the composite turbine tower. A prototype of a scaled turbine tower will be manufactured. The critical details of the prototype will be mechanically tested in the laboratory of WMC. When there are any improvements the turbine tower will be re-designed. To estimate costs and impact on logistics and maintenance WIND2020 will produce a life cycle analysis.
Result
A full demonstration of the feasibility of the composite tower is out of the scope of this project. This project is aimed at generating confidence in the feasibility of the concept. It gives a clear estimate of the achievable cost reduction and serves as input for a subsequent demonstration project.
Project partners
Wind2020Jules Dock Composites
Knowledge Centre WMC
Contact
For inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMC
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 49
info@wmc.eu
For media inquiries please contact:
Knowledge Centre WMCAtt. Ms. Sandra van den Outenaar
Kluisgat 5
1771 MV Wieringerwerf
the Netherlands
phone +31(0)227-50 49 40
info@wmc.eu