Pitching the individual blades of a horizontal-axis wind turbine allows control of asymmetric aerodynamic loads, which in turn influences structural loads in the nonrotating frame such as tower side-side bending. These loads are not easily controlled by traditional collective pitch algorithms. This paper presents the design of individual pitch control systems for implementation on the Controls Advanced Research Turbine (CART) in Colorado to verify controller performance for load attenuation. The control designs are based on linear time-periodic state-space models of the turbine and use optimal control methods for gain calculation. Comparisons are made between new individual pitch, new collective pitch, and baseline controller performance in both above rated and below rated wind conditions. Results from simulations show the potential of individual pitch to reduce tower side-side fatigue damage in above rated wind speeds (by 70% compared to baseline control) but with no improvement over collective pitch in below rated wind speeds. Fatigue load reductions in tower fore-aft, shaft torsion, and blade flap are also observed. From of field testing, both collective and individual pitch controllers achieve a reduction in fatigue damage. However, the superior performance of individual pitch control observed in simulation was not verified by the field test results.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
November 2006
Research Papers
Individual Blade Pitch Control for the Controls Advanced Research Turbine (CART)
Karl A. Stol,
Karl A. Stol
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
The University of Auckland
, Private Bag 92019, New Zealand
Search for other works by this author on:
Wenxin Zhao,
Wenxin Zhao
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
The University of Auckland
, Private Bag 92019, New Zealand
Search for other works by this author on:
Alan D. Wright
Alan D. Wright
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
, 1618 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393
Search for other works by this author on:
Karl A. Stol
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
The University of Auckland
, Private Bag 92019, New Zealand
Wenxin Zhao
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
The University of Auckland
, Private Bag 92019, New Zealand
Alan D. Wright
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
, 1618 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2006, 128(4): 498-505 (8 pages)
Published Online: July 26, 2006
Article history
Received:
April 13, 2006
Revised:
July 26, 2006
Citation
Stol, K. A., Zhao, W., and Wright, A. D. (July 26, 2006). "Individual Blade Pitch Control for the Controls Advanced Research Turbine (CART)." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2006; 128(4): 498–505. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2349542
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Mass Flow Control Strategy for Maximum Energy Extraction in Thermal Energy Storage Tanks
J. Sol. Energy Eng (December 2025)
Related Articles
Design of Controls to Attenuate Loads in the Controls Advanced Research Turbine
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2004)
Design of State-Space-Based Control Algorithms for Wind Turbine Speed Regulation
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2003)
Effect of Blade Torsion on Modeling Results for the Small Wind Research Turbine (SWRT)
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2006)
Full-State Feedback Control of a Variable-Speed Wind Turbine: A Comparison of Periodic and Constant Gains
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2001)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Flexibility Analysis
Process Piping: The Complete Guide to ASME B31.3, Third Edition
Basic Concepts
Design & Analysis of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Components in the Creep Range
Introduction
Turbine Aerodynamics: Axial-Flow and Radial-Flow Turbine Design and Analysis