Wind load simulator for function and durability test of wind turbine drivetrains

The overall focus area of this project is wind and what can be done to lower energy production costs (cost of energy) from wind turbines. The main objective is to develop a scalable and replicable technology platform to serve as basis for a new type of test bench with six independent degrees of freedom for the applied test loads. Main priority is to mature the technology for use in a wind load simulator/test bench for function and reliability test of wind turbine drivetrains when installed in nacelles.

Wind turbine reliability and performance are closely linked to cost of energy, which forms the relevance and commercial pull for the technology developed in this project. Focus on wind turbine system and component cost optimisation, reliability increase and energy production optimisation all calls for verification by extensive test programmes. A wind load simulator for test of complete wind turbine drivetrains fulfils this need and that is what this project is about.

The project scope is broken down into five work packages covering hydraulic actuation, hydraulic power supply system, control systems, mechanical and structural design and finally establishment of a scaled demonstrator (wind load simulator) to be used for verification of central systems.