Research Fields and Orientations

1. Wind energy utilization: Wind turbine blade airfoils suitable for Chinese wind resource characteristics; wind resource assessment and wind farm optimization based on Chinese meteorological and geological features; wind turbine blade inspection technologies and testing standards; large wind turbine blade 3D design methods and design methodology; integrated utilization of wind and ocean energy.

2. Gas turbine engines: Engine general design technology; research on new type compressors; research on counter-rotating turbines; research on short annular combustors; research on micro power systems.

Scientific research instruments and equipment

Regarding research platform construction, the Center has completed the lifting and installation of wind turbine units, purchasing and laying of power cables, pre-commissioning and commissioning of wind turbine units, and site inspection and verification. Two anemometer towers were installed to measure the inflow and wake flow of wind turbine, and at present power tests, noise tests, and structure tests can be conducted on the wind turbine platform. Aerodynamic test systems and aeroelasticity test systems are under construction.

Regarding laboratory instruments, this year the Center purchased a surface pressure measurement system, wind turbine design and analysis software, a noise test system, a modal test data acquisition system, a hydraulic test system, and a fatigue testing machine. Investment in fixed assets totaled CNY 6.29 million.

The construction of the engine experiment rig completed its design review, and can now be used for testing the dual-axis counter-rotating or dual-bypass compressor.

Major Achievements of 2014

In large-scale wind turbine blade research and development, the Center has developed a neural network and genetic algorithm based multi objective optimization design method for thick airfoils with blunt trailing edge. Combined control studies with vortex generators and drag reduction accessories on wind blades were conducted. Aerodynamic noise behaviors and noise control methods for blades were investigated. Research work on the key technologies of 3D aeroelasticity analysis, aerodynamic and structure design, fatigue behaviors and damage mechanisms of thick blades were also carried out. These works form the basis for advanced technical methodologies for aerodynamic, structural and load evaluations of wind turbine blades.

The new type compressor passed the on-site acceptance test on March 19, and was accepted on March 28. For the first time, the new compression principle was internationally verified through experiment and verification of the 5.0 pressure ratio of the two-stage axial compressor.

Organization and Personnel

The Center recruited 5 new staff (including 1 supporting staff) and 1 post-doctor in 2014. Currently there are 33 faculty members, 11 of which have obtained senior professional titles and 16 of which hold PhD degrees.

Patents and paper

In 2014, the Center had 31 scientific publications, which included 12 papers indexed by SCI and 9 by EI. 20 technical reports were submitted. 10 oral presentations and reports were given in international conferences. 22 patent proposals were submitted. 9 patents and 2 software copyrights were authorized.

International Cooperation and Exchanges

In August 2014, Dr. Xiao Chen was invited by Prof. W. Yu at Purdue University and Dr. T. Griffith at Sandia National Laboratory to give academic presentations, "Introduction to R&D Work and Collaborative Opportunities in Wind Turbine Blades at IET, CAS"and "Wind Turbine Reliability: IET-CAS’s Perspective,"at West Lafayette and Albuquerque, respectively. As the only Chinese researcher invited to give an oral presentation at the Sandia Blade Workshop, Dr. Chen shared with leading international institutions the accomplishments of IET-Wind in wind turbine blade research. The subsequent discussion and idea exchange identified the potential collaborative opportunities between IET-Wind and Sandia and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in offshore wind turbine blades analysis, large thick-flatback blade modeling, as well as non-destructive inspection and repair technologies for large composite wind turbine blades.

In November 2014, Ke YANG (senior research scientist) and Zhiwen QIN (research assistant) attended the ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition in Canada. Zhiwen QIN gave a presentation titled "Structural Performance of a Glass/Polyester Composite Wind Turbine Blade with Flatback and Thick Airfoils"in the Mechanics of Solids, Structures and Fluids seminar. Ke YANG gave a presentation titled "Design Method of Wind Turbine Blades with Low Mass and High Aerodynamic Performance"in the Energy seminar. From the international conference, they learned the research focuses and status of the field of aerodynamics, structures and materials of wind turbine blades, and deepened their understanding of the application of advanced testing technology and methods.

Academician XU, the director of the center, led his team to South Korea to attend the Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power in 2014, and exchanged deeply with international and national scholars concerning the latest achievements in aerospace power, fluid machinery, structural design and materials design, etc. Four papers presented at the conference. Mr. ZHAO Wei, an associate senior researcher of the Institute, went to Germany to participate in the ASME Turbo Expo 2014, and presented two papers.