Wind Tunnel – Small Wind Studies (Wind Power – Research Laboratory)

Call Number: 30-14 | Research at Vienna’s Universities of Applied Sciences

Besides photovoltaics, small wind power is one of the few possibilities to generate environmentally friendly electrical energy both in densely built-up areas as well as in urban environments. Due to the increasing desire for private energy autonomy, small wind turbines are increasingly being installed around or on buildings. However, the complex flow field and the proximity to people require adaptations of the rotors, for an efficient operation as well as the reduction of vibrations. At the Energy Research Park Lichtenegg, attempts are being made to improve turbines on a system-safe basis for this complex field of application, but effects on the rotors and vibration events under uncontrolled conditions are almost impossible to investigate. Therefore, the infrastructure project “Wind Power – Research Laboratory” aims at the extension of research and teaching infrastructure of the Energy Research Park Lichtenegg, under controlled conditions in a wind tunnel and a vibration simulator.

The wind tunnel currently under construction at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien will be expanded with sensor technology in the project. Force sensors will be purchased to measure the lift and drag characteristics of rotor blade profiles at different angles of attack and wind speeds, and a suitable mounting structure will be designed and manufactured externally. The measurement conditions in the test section will be determined by means of pitot tube, temperature sensor and humidity sensor, which are to be procured prefabricated. For the integration of the sensors into existing data loggers, analog/digital converters are to be purchased and integrated into the existing data logger. The flow field around the aerodynamic components of small wind turbines will be visualized by means of a fog lamp and a high-speed camera including the corresponding illumination. The design and manufacture of rectifying grids in the wind tunnel will ensure that the flow in the wind tunnel is as laminar as possible, which is essential for controlled testing and the development of aerodynamic components.

Practical experience at the Lichtenegg Energy Research Park has shown that vibrations are a frequent cause of damage and that there is still a great need for research in this area. The planned vibration test stand should make it possible to investigate the vibration behavior of different structures and mast systems systematically and under comprehensible laboratory conditions. This test rig should enable the generation and propagation of vibrations to be recorded in high resolution and to be understood in depth. In addition to models of classical tubular mast systems, modern vibration decoupling systems are also modeled and measured on the test stand.

Practical experience at the Lichtenegg Energy Research Park has shown that vibrations are a frequent cause of damage and that there is still a great need for research in this area. The planned vibration test stand should make it possible to investigate the vibration behavior of different structures and mast systems systematically and under comprehensible laboratory conditions. This test rig should enable the generation and propagation of vibrations to be recorded in high resolution and to be understood in depth. In addition to models of classical tubular mast systems, modern vibration decoupling systems are also modeled and measured on the test stand.