Dynamics of the virtual center of wind pressure: An approach for the estimation of wind turbine loads

Abstract

Abstract A new stochastic method for the reconstruction of time series of bending moments at the main shaft of a wind turbine is presented. The method is based on the characterization of the dynamics of the virtual center of wind pressure (CoWP). The CoWP, calculated purely from the incoming wind field, provides an approach for correlating the bending moments at the shaft with large-scale turbulent structures of the wind acting on the rotor plane. The proposed method allows a fast procedure for generating time series of loads on the shaft. As a result, the computational and time requirements for maximum and fatigue load assessment could be reduced.