Project Info

Wind Turbine Control: Field Data and Simulation Modeling

Kathryn Johnson
kjohnson@mines.edu
Modern wind turbines require control systems to keep them operating efficiently and safely. Through a U.S. DOE project funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), the SUMR/SOAR wind turbine team collected data on a 40-m diameter scaled demonstrator turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The demonstrator turbine is being used to both predict the behavior - including the control systems performance - and validate the existing software simulation model for the design.

More Information:

Grand Challenge: Make solar energy economical
https://sumrwind.com/

Primary Contacts:

Myself and one PhD student. Other graduate students in my lab may occasionally be available as well.

Student Preparation

Qualifications

The student should have strong working knowledge of Matlab and an introductory control systems course such as EENG307 or related experience.

TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)

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 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.

PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS

Junior
Senior
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