Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) conducts applied wind energy research aimed to increase the viability of wind technology by improving wind turbine performance, reliability, and reducing cost of energy. SNL specializes in all aspects of wind-turbine blade design, manufacturing, and system reliability. By partnering with both universities and industry, Sandia focuses on advancing the state of knowledge in the areas of materials, structurally efficient airfoil designs, active-flow aerodynamic control, and sensors. Researchers at the laboratory are currently investigating integrated blade designs where airfoil choice, blade planform, materials, manufacturing process, and embedded controls are all considered in a system perspective. By collaborating with operators, developers, and manufacturers, Sandia evaluates known reliability problems and develops tools and methods to anticipate and investigate future reliability issues.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The Wind Energy Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratories is conducting research in three new areas, the result of additional funding from the Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Program.
Read the article.
A new version of the NuMAD blade design tool, NuMAD2008, has been released and is available upon request. A Users Manual for the code will be available shortly.
We are in the initial stages of planning our next Wind Turbine Reliability Workshop for the Spring 2009, details and registration information will be available soon. If you have not attended any previous workshops and would like to be notified about future events, please email your contact information (mailing address and email address).
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