Brussels Wind Energy Research Institute is joining the efforts of several research groups active in the field of wind energy. Its research program covers several aspects of modern wind turbine technology.

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2. Wind Topics @ BruWind Research Groups
Noise & Vibration
Research group: Acoustics and Vibration – AVRG
Topics: Operational Modal Parameter Estimation, Load and Source Identification,
Structural Health Monitoring, Advanced measurement techniques
Strength & Materials
Research group: Mechanics of Materials and Constructions – MEMC
Topics: Composite materials, Biaxial Material Behavior, Subcomponent testing
Aerodynamics and Aeroelastics
Research group: Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics – FTRG
Topics: CFD simulation over complex terrains, Wind Farm Optimization
Simulation of individual wind turbines
Research group: Industriële Wetenschappen en Technologie– IWT
Topics: Siting studies en wind resource assessment using CFD and wind measurements
Sensors and measurement techniques
Research group: Electrochemical and Surface Engineering – SURF
Topics: Corrosion management Corrosion sensors
Research group: Vakgroep Toegepaste Natuurkunde & Fotonica - TONA
Topics: Optical Fiber Sensors
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3. Wind Topics @ BruWind Research Groups
Generator, Power Electronics, Grid Integration
Research group: Electrical Engineering and Power Electronics – ETEC
Topics: Monitoring, Grid intergration
Control Systems and Automation
Research group: MECH
Topics: Controle algorithms
Environmental Issues
Research group: Acoustics and Vibration – AVRG
Topics: Noise Pollution
Trading Energy, Wind energy Economics
Research group: Bedrijfseconomie en strategisch beleid - BEDR
Topics: Wind energy Economics
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4. AVRG Research
Dynamic Behavior of Wind Turbines
Operational Modal Parameter Identification
GOAL S:
 Development of OMA techniques using transmissibility measurements
 Development of Operational Modal Analysis with Exogenous inputs
 Development of OMA solutions for non white-noise excitations and harmonics 1P, 3P, ..
 Project: Operational Modal Analysis using transmissibility measurements (FWO Christof Devriendt)
Transmissibility Function is a ratio
between 2 responses measured
during a certain loading condition
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5. AVRG Research
Load and Source Identification
Load and Source Identification
GOALS:
 Identifying time-varying wind loads on structures from in situ vibration response data using inverse
methods
 Identifying acoustic sources on structures from in situ pressure data using inverse methods
 Project: Inverse identification of wind loads on structures (FWO project ism KULeuven)
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[H] [H]
{Q} {Q}

6. AVRG Research
Structural Health Monitoring
Structural Health Monitoring of Wind Turbines
GOALS:
 Acquiring and testing state of the art monitoring systems e.g. fiber optic sensors
 Development of advanced data processing techniques
 SHM of blades, towers and foundations using OMA and Transmissibility measurements
Project: Offshore Wind Infrastructure Project (IWT project ism Sirris)
“The development of an algorithm for structural health monitoring during
changing operational forces using distributed sensor networks transmissibility
functions as primary data”

7. AVRG Research
Advanced measurement techniques
Long distant LDV
Non-contact measurement, visualization and analysis of
structural vibrations
Long distant LDV can measure up to a distant of 200m
Potential in the fields of modal analysis testing and structural
health monitoring of wind turbines
In combination with Modal Analysis software a strong tool to
determine the resonate frequencies, damping factors and
mode shapes

8. CFD FTRG Research Complex Terrains
Simulations over
CFD simulations over complex terrains
• CFD is used to predict the wind over complex terrains
• Work together with Von Karman Institute
• COOLFluiD code (http://coolfluidsrv.vki.ac.be/trac/coolfluid)
• RANS approach with wall functions
• unstructured grids
New Meshing Strategies (unstructured grids) Wind Flow over complex terrains

9. CFD FTRG Research Complex Terrains
Simulations over
Wind Farm Optimization
• Work together with Von Karman Institute
• Optimization based on
• CFD simulations (COOLFluiD)
• Wind turbines modeled using actuator disk
• Neural networks
• Genetic algorithms
• Robust optimization using non-deterministic methods
• wo optimizations are considered
T
• Wind farm layout: positioning of wind turbines in the farm
• Wind farm control: power setting of individual turbines for
max wind farm production
Wind Farm Layout optimization Wind Farm Control optimization
NOT acceptable layout
Acceptable layout

10. CFD FTRG Research Complex Terrains
Simulations over
Simulation of individual wind turbines
• Full 3D CFD simulations of individual wind turbines
• prediction of power curve
• optimization of blades for improved efficiency
• RANS or LES modeling
Simulation of NREL windturbine: V=7m/s;
Re=4E6
Streamlines of the flow on the blade
Massive separations near blade root

11. MEMC Research in the field of Wind
Biaxial Material Behavior
Biaxial behavior in e.g.
wind tubine blade Biaxial test method at MeMC
Cruciform specimen design
Glassfibre reinforced epoxy material
Layup frequently used for wind turbine blades
(LM Glassfibre)
= Experimental data needed In-plane loading of
cruciform specimen

12. MEMC Research in the field of Wind
Subcomponent testing
Tests at the moment : small coupon tests or real blade
tests
Flanges, web,
bondlines
sandwich
Blade root
Aim = tests at mid-scale = subcomponent tests
4-point bending and cantilever tests on I-
beams to test bonding in real blade
C. Ramault1, A. Makris1, D. Van Hemelrijck1, Acoustics Vibration Research Group
E. Lamkanfi2, W. Van Paepegem2
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Optimat Blades Project Upwind Project

13. SURF Research
Corrosion management
prediction validation
- Potential model (distribution), - Sensor to detect and quantify
together with Elsyca (SURF Spin-off) corrosion taking place on structure
- Including cathodic protection (CP) - Continuous and in-line monitoring
predictions (condition monitoring)
- Possibility to integrate specific - Can be coupled with CP to reduce
corrosion effects (local corrosion, CP cost
galvanic coupling…) - Used to schedule repainting / repair
- Influence of liquid film on structure cycles
- Influence of evolving splash zone - Can cover specific targets or general
structure
Prototype

14. SURF Research
Corrosion sensors
Based on EIS (Electrochemical
Impedance Spectroscopy)
• ‘interpretation’ step eliminated
• SOIB (Spin-Off in Brussels) project started
in 2009
• goal to establish spin-off to produce /
distribute a corrosion sensor in 2013

15. TONA RESEARCH
Microstructured optical fiber sensors
Microstructured optical fiber sensors successfully
embedded in carbon-fiber reinforced polymer
We achieved
Transversal load sensitivity of our sensor is • Highly improved transverse load
10x larger than in state-of-the-art fibers sensitivity
• Insensitivity to temperature
• Industrially relevant sensor
performance for CFRPs

16. EhB Research Wind Energy
Micro-siting
Determine optimal location for turbine(s) on given
site
Especially complex terrain, incl. (semi-)built
environment
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17. EhB Research Wind Energy
Micro-siting
CFD: Mainly OpenFOAM
Site geometry from google earth, geographical data, +
total station measurements

18. EhB Research Wind Energy
Micro-siting
Wind measurements 2D cup and 3D ultrasonic
Combined with historical wind data,
power curves of wind turbines
➔ resource assessment

19. EhB Research Wind Energy
Aero-elasticity
Modal analysis
FSI, frequency lock-in
Flutter prediction methods

20. EhB Research Wind Energy
Flow control
Load alleviation through smart blades (flaps,
micro-tabs, vortex generators, ...)
CFD and experimental

21. Ongoing Projects in the field of Wind
Project: Offshore Wind Infrastrcutere Project Wind (IWT project ism Sirris)
Domain: Monitoring van Offshore Wind Turbines - CMS - OM
Research group: Acoustics and Vibration - AVRG
Contact Person: Patrick Guillaume, Christof Devriendt
Project: UpWind is a European project funded under the EU's Sixth Framework
Programme (FP6).
Domain: Composite materials for large blades
Research group: Mechanics of Materials and Constructions - MEMC
Contact Person: Danny Van Hemelrijck
Project: Wind Farm Optimization Based on CFD Modeling and Simulations (ism VKI)
Domain: CFD van Wind Farms en Wind Turbines
Research group: Fluid Mechanics Thermodynamics - FTRG
Contact Person: Chris Lacor
Project: Inverse identification of wind loads on structures (FWO project ism
KULeuven)
Domain: Load and source indentification
Research group: Acoustics and Vibration - AVRG
Contact Person: Patrick Guillaume

22. Ongoing Projects in the field of Wind
Project: Gebruik van microwindturbines voor het leveren van hernieuwbare energie
aan particulieren en kleine bedrijven (IWT Tetra project)
Domain: Ontwerp nieuwe concepten kleine Wind TurbinesOnderzoeksgroep:
Research group: Mechanica Mech
Contact Person: Mark Runacres, Tim De Troyer
Project: EMOVO –Multidisciplinair onderzoeks- en vormings-centrum rond energie en
milieu technologieen
Domain: creatie van een multidisciplinair ontwikkellings- en vormings-centrum rond energie-en
milieutechnologieën
Research group: Department Mechanica Mech
Contact Person: Mark Runacres, Tim De Troyer

23. Contact:
Dr. ir. Christof Devriendt
Vrije Universiteit Brussel | Pleinlaan 2 | B-1050 Brussel | Belgium
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering | Acoustics Vibration Research Group
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Tel. +32 2 6292390 | Fax +32 2 6292865 | GSM +32 477412049
Mail: christof.devriendt@vub.ac.be