Wind Energy Science (Feb 2022)
Wind turbine drivetrains: state-of-the-art technologies and future development trends
- A. R. Nejad,
- J. Keller,
- Y. Guo,
- S. Sheng,
- H. Polinder,
- S. Watson,
- J. Dong,
- Z. Qin,
- A. Ebrahimi,
- R. Schelenz,
- F. Gutiérrez Guzmán,
- D. Cornel,
- R. Golafshan,
- G. Jacobs,
- B. Blockmans,
- B. Blockmans,
- J. Bosmans,
- J. Bosmans,
- B. Pluymers,
- B. Pluymers,
- J. Carroll,
- S. Koukoura,
- E. Hart,
- A. McDonald,
- A. Natarajan,
- J. Torsvik,
- F. K. Moghadam,
- P.-J. Daems,
- T. Verstraeten,
- C. Peeters,
- J. Helsen
Affiliations
- A. R. Nejad
- Marine Technology Department, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- J. Keller
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
- Y. Guo
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
- S. Sheng
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
- H. Polinder
- Technische Universiteit Delft, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, the Netherlands
- S. Watson
- Technische Universiteit Delft, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, the Netherlands
- J. Dong
- Technische Universiteit Delft, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, the Netherlands
- Z. Qin
- Technische Universiteit Delft, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, the Netherlands
- A. Ebrahimi
- Institute for Drive Systems and Power Electronics, Leibniz University Hannover, Postfach 6009, 30060 Hannover, Germany
- R. Schelenz
- Center for Wind Power Drives (CWD), RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 61, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- F. Gutiérrez Guzmán
- Institute for Machine Elements and Systems Engineering (MSE), RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstrasse 10, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- D. Cornel
- Institute for Machine Elements and Systems Engineering (MSE), RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstrasse 10, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- R. Golafshan
- Institute for Machine Elements and Systems Engineering (MSE), RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstrasse 10, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- G. Jacobs
- Institute for Machine Elements and Systems Engineering (MSE), RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstrasse 10, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- B. Blockmans
- LMSD Division, Mechanical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
- B. Blockmans
- Core Lab Dynamics of Mechanical and Mechatronic Systems, Flanders Make, Heverlee, Belgium
- J. Bosmans
- LMSD Division, Mechanical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
- J. Bosmans
- Core Lab Dynamics of Mechanical and Mechatronic Systems, Flanders Make, Heverlee, Belgium
- B. Pluymers
- LMSD Division, Mechanical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
- B. Pluymers
- Core Lab Dynamics of Mechanical and Mechatronic Systems, Flanders Make, Heverlee, Belgium
- J. Carroll
- Wind Energy and Control Centre, Electronic And Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom
- S. Koukoura
- Wind Energy and Control Centre, Electronic And Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom
- E. Hart
- Wind Energy and Control Centre, Electronic And Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom
- A. McDonald
- Institute for Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- A. Natarajan
- DTU Wind Energy, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- J. Torsvik
- Equinor ASA, Sandslivegen 90, 5254 Sandsli, Norway
- F. K. Moghadam
- Marine Technology Department, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- P.-J. Daems
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, OWI-Lab, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
- T. Verstraeten
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, OWI-Lab, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
- C. Peeters
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, OWI-Lab, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
- J. Helsen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, OWI-Lab, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-387-2022
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 7
pp. 387 – 411
Abstract
This paper presents the state-of-the-art technologies and development trends of wind turbine drivetrains – the system that converts kinetic energy of the wind to electrical energy – in different stages of their life cycle: design, manufacturing, installation, operation, lifetime extension, decommissioning and recycling. Offshore development and digitalization are also a focal point in this study. Drivetrain in this context includes the whole power conversion system: main bearing, shafts, gearbox, generator and power converter. The main aim of this article is to review the drivetrain technology development as well as to identify future challenges and research gaps. The main challenges in drivetrain research identified in this paper include drivetrain dynamic responses in large or floating turbines, aerodynamic and farm control effects, use of rare-earth material in generators, improving reliability through prognostics, and use of advances in digitalization. These challenges illustrate the multidisciplinary aspect of wind turbine drivetrains, which emphasizes the need for more interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
