Wind Turbine Terminology and Components

Morten Hartvig Hansen

Learning objectives
After this lecture you should be able to:

• List the main components of the commercial horizontal-axis wind

turbine

• List the main degrees of freedom of the commercial horizontal-axis

wind turbine
Main components
• Rotor
– generates aerodynamic torque from the wind

Rotor
• Nacelle Nacelle
– converts the torque into electrical power

• Tower
– holds nacelle and rotor blades up in the wind
and provides access to the nacelle Tower

• Foundation
– ensures that the turbine stays upright

Foundation
Main degrees of freedom
• Azimuth
– rotation of rotor about its shaft due to
the torque
Yaw
• Yaw Pitch
– rotation of nacelle about the vertical Pitch
lengthwise axis of the tower
Pitch
• Pitch
– rotation of blades about their lengthwise
axis due to pitch control action
Rotor
• Blades
• Hub
• Spinner
• Pitch bearing and system

Hub and spinner

Rotor blades with pitch bearing

Nacelle with drivetrain and power electronics

converter
brake

transformer
(Source: www.wwindea.org)
Tower
Tubular tower Lattice tower Tripod tower
Onshore concrete gravitation foundations
Offshore foundations and floating platforms

Spar
buoy

Monopile Tripod Jacket Semi-

submersible

(Source: www.HAWC2.dk)
Summary
• The main components of the horizontal-axis wind turbine are:
– Rotor with rotor blades and hub
– Nacelle
• Drivetrain with main bearing, gearbox, brake and generator
• Power electronics consisting of the converter and transformers
– Tower
– Foundation

• The main degrees of freedom are:

– Azimuth rotation of the rotor
– Yaw rotation of nacelle about the vertical axis
– Pitch rotation of the blades about their lengthwise axis