Call for papers: "Advanced Technologies, Testing Methods and Computational Models for Wind Turbine Powertrains"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Powertrains.

Wind power has established itself as one of the leading sustainable energy technologies, currently claiming nearly 10% of European electrical energy production, and with large potential to grow further as multi-MW wind farms move off-shore. Highly variable wind and weather conditions and network faults pose a significant challenge to meeting the typical expected design lifetime of 20 years, as wind turbine powertrains and their several subsystems are still susceptible to failures. This, combined with poor accessibility, especially in off-shore installations, and the associated repair and maintenance costs, has been a strong driver for research into and development of new, more reliable and cost-effective powertrain technologies, as well as corresponding testing methods and models of increased accuracy to predict performance and failure and aid in the assessment and design of the various critical powertrain subsystems.

This special issue aims to cover recent developments in advanced technologies, testing methods and computational models for wind turbine powertrains. Research and development results pertaining to both emerging and more established technologies are highly relevant.

Suitable topics include (but are not limited to) the dynamics, performance, failure/reliability and model-based design/optimisation of:

• Transmission technology:
• Mechanical gearbox transmissions
• Direct drive transmissions
• Magnetic gear drive transmissions
• Hybrid and/or compact transmissions
• Subsystems:
• Flexible shafts and smart structures
• Bearings (mechanical contact, fluidic, electromagnetic)
• Couplings (mechanical contact, fluidic, electromagnetic) and speed/torque control systems
• (On-line) performance and condition monitoring systems; connectivity
• Novel testing and characterisation methods:
• Performance/efficiency measurement
• Failure detection and characterisation
• In-the-loop emulation of real operating conditions

Important Dates

Submission deadline: 1 June, 2015
Review results: 1 September, 2015
Revised paper submission deadline: 1 November, 2015