HAW-Hamburg: Research projects

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The X-Energy sub-project X-Multirotor develops realistic and competitive concept designs for multi-rotor wind turbines (MRWT) and compares and estimates the levelized cost of energy (LCoE) with that of a conventional wind turbine (WT) with one rotor blade. The LCoE is the cost of converting energy from another form of energy into electricity. In order to make useful statements for future generations of wind turbines, the turbines to be considered in the sub-project have a total rated output of 20 MW.

The capacity of a wind turbine is directly related to the rotor area and the wind speed multiplied by three (third power). As a result, conventional turbines with one rotor blade are constantly being built higher and larger. This presents companies with ever new challenges in the manufacture and transportation of wind turbines.

One approach to countering and utilizing these physical and mathematical problems is the MRWT. The MRWTs investigated in the X-Multirotor sub-project consist of individual rotors arranged on a plane (coplanar) and connected to each other and to the tower via a support structure. The power of the individual rotors varies with the number of rotors with a fixed total rated power of 20 MW. Based on simplified load cases, the performance of different numbers and arrangements of rotors is then examined. In addition, due to their design, MRWTs offer further possibilities for wind tracking, i.e. the optimal alignment of the turbine with respect to the wind direction. It is being investigated whether the targeted control of individual rotors (and not the entire turbine) can be used to generate thrust differences that turn the MRWT in the direction of the wind in the presence of an inclined flow in order to achieve an optimum wind load.

The results from the X-Multirotor sub-project are being applied and further developed in the sub-project X-Multirotor DfM.

Project Team:

Sven Störtenbecker

Project Leader

Prof. Peter Dalhoff

Duration

11/2017 - 06/2022

Budget

676.600 €

In cooperation with

Siemens Gamesa

Funding

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Unit

CC4E - Competence Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency

Contact

Prof. Peter Dalhoff

Professor für Windtechnik

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Production Management

peter.dalhoff (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de

Stellv. Leiter CC4E

Competence Center Erneuerbare Energien und Energieeffizienz

T +49 40 428 75-8674

peter.dalhoff (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de