Search results for " wind"
showing 10 items of 403 documents
Interspecific comparison of the performance of soaring migrants in relation to morphology, meteorological conditions and migration strategies.
2012
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.
Seasonally specific responses to wind patterns and ocean productivity facilitate the longest animal migration on Earth
2020
Migratory strategies of animals are broadly defined by species’ eco-evolutionary dynamics, while behavioural plasticity according to the immediate environmental conditions en route is crucial for energy efficiency and survival. The Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea is known for its remarkable migration capacity, as it performs the longest migration known by any animal. Yet, little is known about the ecology of this record-breaking journey. Here, we tested how individual migration strategies of Arctic terns are adapted to wind conditions and fuelling opportunities along the way. To this end, we deployed geolocators on adult birds at their breeding sites in Svalbard, Norway. Our results confirm f…
Wind effects on the migration routes of trans-Saharan soaring raptors: geographical, seasonal, and interspecific variation
2016
Wind is among the most important environmental factors shaping birds’ migration patterns. Birds must deal with the displacement caused by crosswinds and their behavior can vary according to different factors such as flight mode, migratory season, experience, and distance to goal areas. Here we analyze the relationship between wind and migratory movements of three raptor species which migrate by soaring–gliding flight: Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus, booted eagle Aquila pennata, and short-toed snake eagle Circaetus gallicus. We analyzed daily migratory segments (i.e., the path joining consecutive roosting locations) using data recorded by GPS satellite telemetry. Daily movements of E…
Integrated GNSS/IMU Hub Motion Estimator for Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Installation
2019
Abstract Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) have become increasingly popular for their ability to harvest clean offshore wind energy. Bottom-fixed foundations are the most used foundation type. Because of its large diameter, the foundation is sensitive to wave loads. For typical manually assisted blade-mating operations, the decision to perform the mating operation is based on the relative distance and velocity between the blade root center and the hub, and in accordance with the weather window. Hence, monitoring the hub real-time position and velocity is necessary, whether the blade installation is conducted manually or automatically. In this study, we design a hub motion estimation algorithm f…
A review of diagnostics and prognostics of low-speed machinery towards wind turbine farm-level health management
2016
Abstract Large wind farms are gaining prominence due to increasing dependence on renewable energy. In order to operate these wind farms reliably and efficiently, advanced maintenance strategies such as condition based maintenance are necessary. However, wind turbines pose unique challenges in terms of irregular load patterns, intermittent operation and harsh weather conditions, which have deterring effects on life of rotating machinery. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in the area of diagnostics and prognostics pertaining to two critical failure prone components of wind turbines, namely, low-speed bearings and planetary gearboxes. The survey evaluates those methods that are applicabl…
Direct Torque Control of a Small Wind Turbine with a Sliding-Mode Speed Controller
2016
In this paper. the method of direct torque control in the presence of a sliding-mode speed controller is proposed for a small wind turbine being used in water heating applications. This concept and control system design can be expanded to grid connected or off-grid applications. Direct torque control of electrical machines has shown several advantages including very fast dynamics torque control over field-oriented control. Moreover. the torque and flux controllers in the direct torque control algorithms are based on hvsteretic controllers which are nonlinear. In the presence of a sliding-mode speed control. a nonlinear control system can be constructed which is matched for AC/DC conversion …
Design of a robust controller for DC/DC converter–electrolyzer systems supplied by μWECSs subject to highly fluctuating wind speed
2020
Abstract A buck-based, isolated, high-voltage-ratio DC/DC converter that allows supplying a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer from a micro-wind energy conversion system ( μ WECS) has been recently presented. It exhibits low ripple at the switching frequency on the output voltage and current and represents an attractive solution for low-cost hydrogen production. In this paper, a more accurate mathematical model of such a converter is derived and discussed. Then, a model-based robust controller is designed in the frequency domain using the Internal Model Control structure and in the context of H 2 ∕ H ∞ optimal control. The controller satisfies the condition of robust stability and …
Design of a telescopic tower for wind energy production with reduced environmental impact
2019
A prototype of a telescopic pole for wind energy production with low environmental impact and its lifting system for a 60 to 250 kW turbine and a height of 30 m have been designed and manufactured. A telescopic tower, which is raised and lowered by automation or by remote control, allows to differentiate the presence of the generator within the landscape over time. The technology currently available for lifting and lowering wind turbines is made up of telescopic poles of heights of less than 10 meters and with tilting posts of height below 30 m. Without a state of the art to refer to, the telescopic pole and its lifting system have been designed starting from scratch and solving with innova…
Damage identification of a jacket support structure for offshore wind turbines
2020
Offshore jacket structures are regarded as a suitable type of support structure for offshore wind turbines in immediate water depths. Because of the welded tubular members used and environmental conditions, offshore jackets are often subjected to fatigue damages during their service life. Underwater sensors can provide measurements of the structural vibration signals and provide an efficient way to detect damages at early stages. In this work, simplified forms of the damages are assumed, random damages are imposed on the jacket structure, and damaged indicators are established from combination of modal shapes. Then, a response surface is constructed mapping the damage indicators and damages…
Birth Mode-Related Differences in Gut Microbiota Colonization and Immune System Development.
2018
<b><i>Background:</i></b> The process of early gut colonization is extremely variable among individuals and is influenced by numerous factors. Among these, the mode of birth will strongly shape the early microbial exposure and immune environment of the neonate. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> Here, I review how the concomitant processes of microbiota and immune system development are altered by C-section delivery and the effects of such alterations on long-term health. <b><i>Key messages:</i></b> C-section delivery impinges on microbiota and immune system development through various means: (i) if labor is lacking, intrauterine i…