Project Info

Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor Wind Turbine Analysis

Kathryn Johnson | kjohnson@mines.edu

The Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor (SUMR) Wind Turbine is a revolutionary turbine designed by a multi-institutional team under ARPA-E funding. It represents a promising future for wind energy. This particular MURF project is an opportunity to analyze data and understand results from a 40-m diameter scaled demonstrator of the 13-MW turbine design. The data is being generated at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, one of the partner institutions. In addition to the opportunity to learn about wind energy, the project facilitates networking across all of the team’s institutions, building connections with professors, NREL researchers, and graduate students in varied areas.

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Student Preparation

Qualifications

The student should have strong working knowledge of Matlab. An introductory control systems course such as EENG307 is helpful but not mandatory.

Time Commitment

5-10hours/week, depending on student interest (supplemental funding available for >5)

Skills/Techniques Gained

  • Data analysis using Matlab
  • Deep understanding of how wind turbines operate in the “real world” – not just simulation based
  • Appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in wind turbine design
  • Teamwork
  • Research dissemination (presentation, writing – opportunities to co-author papers exist)

Mentoring Plan

I will meet weekly or biweekly with the student to discuss progress, troubleshoot problems, set new goals, and provide other types of mentoring. He/she/they will also be mentored by the graduate student (and potential postdoc) at Mines working on the project, as well as having the opportunity to learn from the other grad students, postdocs, and senior researchers on the project across disciplines.

The student will also have the opportunity to work with other undergrad research assistants I supervise on another project to learn more about challenges and opportunities specific to undergrad research.