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Lightweight design of direct-drive wind turbine electrical generators: A comparison between steel and composite material structures

Jaen Sola, Pablo; McDonald, Alasdair; Oterkus, Erkan

Authors

Alasdair McDonald

Erkan Oterkus



Abstract

Direct-drive generators for wind turbines are high torque, low speed machines which require a heavy robust structure to maintain the air-gap clearance open and stable. The mass of the structural material can be assessed at the early stages of the design process for radial-flux generators. By using low density materials, such as composites, the entire mass of the machine can be significantly reduced. A comparison between steel structures and structures made with composite materials working under the same loading conditions is made using small scale (100 kW) and large scale (3 MW) generator models. Potential improvements to the lightweight proposed structures are also suggested.

Citation

Jaen Sola, P., McDonald, A., & Oterkus, E. (2019). Lightweight design of direct-drive wind turbine electrical generators: A comparison between steel and composite material structures. Ocean Engineering, 181, 330-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2019.03.053

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 30, 2019
Online Publication Date Apr 23, 2019
Publication Date Jun 1, 2019
Deposit Date May 30, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Ocean Engineering
Print ISSN 0029-8018
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 181
Pages 330-341
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2019.03.053
Keywords Direct-Drive Wind Turbine, Lightweight, Generator Structure, Steel, Composite Materials
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1770442

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