NTUA

Contact

National Technical University of Athens – NTUA
Heroon Polytechniou 9
15780 Zografou Greece

Phone: +30 210 7721097
Fax:+30 210 7721057
e-mail: vasilis@fluid.mech.ntua.gr
e-mail: nh@power.ece.ntua.gr
web: www.ntua.gr

NTUA is the oldest engineering HE Institution in Greece. The total number of students is about 10000, 8500 undergraduate and 1500 graduate ones. NTUA is divided in 9 faculties, each further subdivided in departments/laboratories covering all engineering disciplines. In parallel to education NTUA is also very active in research. Over the last ten years the mean contribution of the research activities to the total budget of NTUA was 70% originating from both the public and private sector.
Mainly two of NTUA’s faculties have been involved in Wind Energy research and education: the faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Activities have been directed on a wide range of topics both with respect to the analysis and design of wind turbines as well as the implementation and integration of wind energy.


Research groups involved

Electric Power Division, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The main lines of research concern integration of wind power and design of components. The integration line concerns the analysis of technical constraints from the integration of wind power into electrical grids, the management and control of island power systems with increased wind power penetration and power quality issues. The design line concerns lightning protection of wind turbines and wind parks and the design of electrical components for variable speed machines, including permanent magnet synchronous generators, power electronic converters and their controls.

Fluids Section, School of Mechanical Engineering
The focus is on the aeromechanical aspects of wind turbines and includes modelling and design with respect to performance (aerodynamics), safety & reliability (aeroelasticity) and noise. Another line of activity concerns wind parks and includes: the analysis and design of wind parks in particular as regards terrain and wake effects.

There is close collaboration between the two groups especially on the integrated modelling of the complete wind turbine system. Both groups are in close collaboration with CRES basically regarding the joint development of software and the sharing of testing facilities.


Facilities & Advanced Research Tools

Wind Tunnel Closed circuit wind tunnel test facility supported with hot-wire anemometry, LDA and PIV suitable for: aerodynamic measurements up to Re=106 at a test section 1.8m x 1.4m and scaled site mean flow measurements 3.5m x 2.5m
RTDS The Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) is capable of modelling power networks and test external devices and control circuits via digital and analogue inputs. Particularly useful for studying Wind Turbine effects on power quality
Computing Facility 20 proc Cluster for MPI computations, 10 Workstations
Software Optimal design of wind turbine rotors
Full aeroelastic simulation of wind turbine configurations
Aeracoustic modelling of wind turbines
Noise propagation models in the atmosphere
Drive train electo-mechanical analysis and design
Power quality analysis for constant and variable speed operation
Wind energy integration modelling
Operation and management analysis of isolated power systems with increased wind power penetration
Lightning protection and grounding system analysis
CFD for aerodynamic analysis and site evaluation
Wind farm modelling and design

R&D Strategy

TERM
shortmediumlong
Optimal aerodynamic design of airfoils
Optimal aeroelastic design of blades
Detailed CFD analysis of wind turbine rotor systems
Aeroelastic modelling of full wind turbines configurations with emphasis on stability
Aeroacoustic analysis of wind turbine rotors
Design and testing of control systems for wind turbines
Investigation of generic aeromechanical systems for performance improvement and load alleviation (solid and air-jet vortex generators, moving flaps, active structural control)
Investigation of new concepts (flexible rotors, floating wind turbines)
Grounding and lightning protection of wind generators
Design and analysis of wind farms including integration and power quality issues
Investigation of new concepts (flexible rotors, floating wind turbines)
Operation and management of micro-grids and distributed generation including wind
Investigation of new concepts (flexible rotors, floating wind turbines)

Education and training activities

Education and training activities on Wind Energy at NTUA covers all education levels. There are undergraduate courses offered by the two main faculties. At the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty there is a dedicated course that focuses on integration issues while the material concerning the analysis and design of generators and control is covered by specific courses. At the Mechanical Engineering faculty, there is a general course on renewable energy sources which also contains an introduction to wind energy as well as a special course dedicated to wind energy. Topics such as Aeroelasticity, Aeracoustics, Machine design and Manufacturing are covered by specific courses which make reference to wind turbines as application cases. At post-graduate level, there is a course entitled: “Energy generation and management” having two options, one of which is on Renewable Energy Sources and Rational use of Energy including courses on Wind Energy. The students follow a two semester training course followed by a project of nominal duration of 4-6 months. In addition NTUA is participating in the EUREC Master Course program, by organizing the Wind Energy Specialty Option covering the fall semester.
Other education and training possibilities include enrolment on a 4 year project leading to a PhD as well as shorter training courses. These two options are open also to non-greek speaking students coming to NTUA either through EU training programs such as SOKRATES/ERASMUS or through bilateral agreements with other Universities.