Contact: Prof. Zehnder, atz2@cornell.edu
This project will involve field testing, modeling and simulation of wind turbine blades. The goal of the project is to develop the ability to accurately predict turbine performance and blade loads under realistic test conditions. Field trials of a residential (5 kw) scale wind turbine are currently being planned and will start this fall at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) test site. The project will likely include a visit to the WEICan field facility on Prince Edward Island to observe the testing. Data from the tests will include the incoming wind speeds and direction as well as turbine power, blade loads and other parameters. To gain confidence in the modeling, the project will start with static testing and modeling and then proceed to dynamic simulations of the turbine field trials. The capabilities of the model to accurately predict turbine load and performance will be tested by comparing predicted and measured values. The work is primarily simulation and data analysis oriented and is expected to last 2 semesters.
Qualifications of Student: MAE 3260 system dynamics, MAE 4020 wind power, and MAE 4700 finite element analysis (or equivalents).