KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Large Utility-Scale Wind Turbine Dynamics and Control for Fun and Profit

Prof. Mark Balas
University of Wyoming, USA

Abstract

The next generation of utility-scale wind turbines will be larger and more flexible than earlier designs to promote greater energy capture and reduce the cost of energy. It is here that the implementation of active feedback control is crucial to meet design objectives. Not only must there be power regulation or optimization but also load mitigation to extend the life of the turbine. Wind turbine dynamics modeling for active control is composed of four principal parts:

1. Aerodynamics and Inflow Behavior
2. Structural Dynamics
3. Feedback Control Algorithms
4. Power Electronics

Active control is a relatively new technology for wind turbines. Basic control theory used in this talk is linear time-invariant and periodic control using disturbance accommodation, but with a strong connection to the aerodynamics and structural dynamics of wind turbines.

Biography of the Keynote Speaker

Mark Balas is the Guthrie Nicholson Professor of Electrical Engineering and Head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Wyoming. He has the following technical degrees: PhD in Mathematics, MS Electrical Engineering, MA Mathematics, and BS Electrical Engineering. He has held various positions in industry, academia, and government. Among his careers, he has been a university professor for over 30 years with RPI, MIT, University of Colorado, and University of Wyoming, and has mentored 39 doctoral students. He has over 300 publications in archive journals, refereed conference proceedings and technical book chapters. He is the Associate Director of the University of Wyoming Wind Energy Research Center. He is a fellow of the AIAA and a life fellow of the IEEE.