General presentation of wind energy and wind turbines

Evolution and classification of wind turbines, Wind turbine components. Overview of the wind power industry in European Union and worldwide. Considerations in wind farm siting and operation

Wind characteristics and wind energy potential

Characteristics of wind. Meteorological aspects. Weibull distribution. Calculation of theoretical wind energy potential. Calculation of produced energy by a given wind turbine. General presentation of atmospheric boundary layer. Wind velocity measurements.

Aerodynamics of wind turbines

Aerodynamics of an airfoil, forces and coefficients. Operation in normal and stall mode. Rotor aerodynamics. Momentum theory, Betz’ law, Blade element momentum theory, vortex theories.

Mechanical Design

Normal and extreme loads as defined by the standards, Blade design, presentation of employed materials. Mechanical behavior and test. Aeroelasticity of blades. Rotor in operation.

Electrical Power conversion in wind turbines

Fixed speed wind turbine. Variable speed wind turbine. Full power electronic converter. Double feed induction machine. Integration of wind turbines in electrical networks of transport and of distribution.

Control and Regulation of wind turbines

Power electronic converter control

Wind turbine control strategy: stall, pitch control.

Introduction to CFD and simulations of flow and wake of a wind turbine. Practice

of CAO and preparation of the numerical model. Analysis and synthesis of results.

Submission of a report.

Experimental investigation in ENSAM wind tunnel.

Tests of a wind turbine and determination of its characteristic curves: thrust, torque

and power. Analysis of results and submission of a testing report.

Initiation to scientific communication.