Alec Jamil
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): M. Javad Javaherian
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering / Engineering
Program:
Authors: Alec Jamil, M. Javad Javaherian
Session: Session 6: 3:40 pm – 4:30 pm
Poster: 31
Abstract
This poster observes the implementation of the maximum power point tracking technique (MPPT) known as Optimal Torque Control (OTC) to the wind turbine designed by the University of Michigan’s offshore wind turbine team. MPPT techniques are necessary to maximize the turbine’s power output with differing wind conditions. By adjusting the generator torque and maintaining it at an optimal point, average power is increased for the wind turbine. Some key data is necessary to find the optimal speed at which the generator must spin for different wind speeds. Since wind speed will not be taken as a direct measurement from an anemometer, the control system must utilize the optimal tip speed ratio and the wind turbine’s power curve at different wind speeds to implicitly obtain the wind speed. To find the optimal tip speed ratio, the team compared simulation results using Simscape for the blades with wind tunnel tests of power coefficient vs. tip speed ratio at different wind speeds. Next, a power curve of the wind turbine was obtained at different tip speeds. From this data, it is possible to extrapolate the wind speed indirectly and use it to calculate the optimal torque depending on the power output and rotational speed of the motor.
