Modelling and control system design of a wind turbines blade for aerodynamic load alleviation using plasma and fluidic jets actuators

In a century where the green energy is a vital challenge, research about wind turbines is increasing its importance for giving an alternative solution to polluting and fossil energies production systems. The study of wind turbines can be considered at various scales levels, as the farm, the wind turbine and the blade. In this study we focused on the load alleviation produced by airflow speed and incidence angle variation by means of active control. Wind turbines greatly loses its efficiency when faced to wind gusts, moreover, the blade life span is reduced by the oscillation created by the wind. Aim of this work is to study two approaches in order to both reduce the blade oscillation and actively keep a constant lift. Thus, Plasma actuators and Fluidic jets are used for changing the air circulation around the blade, thus, the lift. In order to prove the effectiveness of the propose methods, proofs of concepts are conducted thanks to experiments in a wind tunnel and through numerical model simulations. Moreover, dynamic control is developed based on lift measurement thanks to strain gauges. The thesis has been developed during my internship in the PRISME laboratory. A French multidisciplinary research laboratory in systems, mechanics and energetics engineering. This project is held by two axes - Flow Aerodynamic System (ESA) and Energy, Combustion and Motors (ECM) - with a common objective to meet major societal challenges about clean, safe and efficient energy.