Trailing-Edge Flap Control for Mitigating Rotor Power Fluctuations of a Large-Scale Offshore Floating Wind Turbine under the Turbulent Wind Condition

Abstract

A trailing-edge flap control strategy for mitigating rotor power fluctuations of a 5 MW offshore floating wind turbine is developed under turbulent wind inflow. The wind shear must be considered because of the large rotor diameter. The trailing-edge flap control strategy is based on the turbulent wind speed, the blade azimuth angle, and the platform motions. The rotor power is predicted using the free vortex wake method, coupled with the control strategy. The effect of the trailing-edge flap control on the rotor power is determined by a comparison with the rotor power of a turbine without a trailing-edge flap control. The optimal values of the three control factors are obtained. The results show that the trailing-edge flap control strategy is effective for improving the stability of the output rotor power of the floating wind turbine under the turbulent wind condition.