Analysis of load reduction possibilities using a hydraulic soft yaw system for a 5-MW turbine and its sensitivity to yaw-bearing friction

• A soft yaw concept is analysed wrt. load reductions in the wind turbine structure.
• A novel method for including Coulomb friction in the aerodynamic code FAST is presented.
• Sensitivity of equivalent fatigue and extreme loads due to yaw friction is analysed.
• Load reductions of up to 40% on fatigue loads and 37% on ultimate loads are possible.

With the increasing size of wind turbines and with increasing lifetime demands, new methods for load reduction in the turbines need to be examined. One method is to make the yaw system of the turbine flexible, thereby dampening the loads to the system. This paper presents a hydraulic soft yaw concept and investigates the effect this has on critical loads in the turbine. To analyze the system, a novel friction model is developed and implemented for the yaw system using the NREL 5-MW turbine in the aerodynamic code FAST. Based on this model, the influence of friction is investigated and the results on load reduction for three different design load cases are presented and discussed. From the investigation, it is found that load reductions of up to 40% on fatigue loads and 37% on ultimate loads are possible when considering the yaw system.