New discoveries in the wind tunnel

Bachmann electronic supports R&D project

The aerospace engineering department at the Politecnico di Milano (Italy) is working on the creation of a model wind turbine in their internal wind tunnel. It is used for researching operating behavior in extreme conditions. Bachmann electronic is providing the controller for the model.

Realistic setup of the experimental design in the wind tunnel of the University of Milan, including the Bachmann M1 Automation System.

The aim is the test setup of an aero-servo-elastic model that can provide information about the behavior of wind turbines under extreme wind conditions. Information about the aerodynamics and aeroelasticity of the wind turbine is collected, in conditions that cannot be easily tested in the field.

The model features active individual blade pitch and torque control, as a real wind turbine. To obtain more realistic simulations, the tower and the rotor blades need to have an elastic design. The wind turbine model is equipped with a large number of sensors and records extensive measuring data.

Bachmann electronic counts on cooperations with universities and research institutes as their research results will influence future developments. Prof. Carlo L. Bottasso from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano is delighted: “The Bachmann M1 automation system enables us to simulate the realistic operation of the wind turbine in the wind tunnel.”