When interest is in establishing ultimate design loads for wind turbines such that a service life of, say, 20 years is assured, alternative procedures are available. One class of methods works by employing statistical loads extrapolation techniques following development first of 10-minute load maxima distributions (conditional on inflow parameters such as mean wind speed and turbulence intensity). The parametric conditional load distributions require extensive turbine response simulations over the entire inflow parameter range. We will refer to this first class of methods as the “parametric method.” An alternative method is based on traditional structural reliability concepts and isolates only a subset of interesting inflow parameter combinations that are easily first found by working backward from the target return period of interest. This so-called inverse reliability method can take on various forms depending on the number of variables that are modeled as random. An especially attractive form that separates inflow (environmental) variables from turbine load∕response variables and further neglects variability in the load variables given inflow is referred to as the environmental contour (EC) method. We shall show that the EC method requires considerably smaller amounts of computation than the parametric method. We compare accuracy and efficiency of the two methods in 1- and 20-year design out-of-plane blade bending loads at the root of two 1.5 MW turbines. Simulation models for these two turbines with contrasting features, in that one is stall-regulated and the other pitch-regulated, are used here. Refinements to the EC method that account for the effects of the neglected response variability are proposed to improve the turbine design load estimates.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
November 2006
Research Papers
Design Loads for Wind Turbines Using the Environmental Contour Method
Korn Saranyasoontorn,
Korn Saranyasoontorn
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering,
University of Texas
, Austin, TX 78712
Search for other works by this author on:
Lance Manuel
Lance Manuel
Associate Professor
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering,
University of Texas
, Austin, TX 78712
Search for other works by this author on:
Korn Saranyasoontorn
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering,
University of Texas
, Austin, TX 78712
Lance Manuel
Associate Professor
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering,
University of Texas
, Austin, TX 78712J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2006, 128(4): 554-561 (8 pages)
Published Online: July 20, 2006
Article history
Received:
February 2, 2006
Revised:
July 20, 2006
Citation
Saranyasoontorn, K., and Manuel, L. (July 20, 2006). "Design Loads for Wind Turbines Using the Environmental Contour Method." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2006; 128(4): 554–561. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2346700
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
Symmetry Considerations When Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition for Predicting Wind Turbine Yaw Loads
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2006)
Modal Response of 3-Bladed Wind Turbines
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2002)
U.S. National Laboratory Research Supporting Low Wind Speed Technology
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2002)
Effects of Wind Turbine Starting Capability on Energy Yield
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (April,2012)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Introduction
Turbine Aerodynamics: Axial-Flow and Radial-Flow Turbine Design and Analysis
Three-Dimensional Solid Modeling of Large Wind Turbine Blade Based on Wilson Theory
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Technology (ICMET-London 2011)
Designing a Wind Turbine to Produce Electrical Energy in Vehicle
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology, 3rd, (ICMET-China 2011), Volumes 1–3