Wind Turbine Reliability

PhD in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Wind and Marine Energy Systems and Structures at the University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh.

Developing Future Leaders in Wind and Marine Renewable Energy:

The WAMSS Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) trains researchers to PhD level in wind and marine energy. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), this 3-year PhD project will be supervised by academics form both the University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh.

Research project overview:

Wind turbine reliability is a crucial aspect of the O&M costs and in turn the LCoE of wind turbines. All else being equal, increased reliability will lead to decreased O&M costs. Accurate reliability inputs are key to maintenance modelling, maintenance planning and LCoE modelling. This project will aim to quantify reliability for wind turbines and their components. Reliability of wind turbine components depending on their power ratings will be a key element of this PhD. Uncertainty around the reliability of higher rated (Greater than 5MW) wind turbines is a well-known issue. There is also renewed interest in the reliability of lower power rating wind turbine components due to novel concepts such as the multi rotor and X-Rotor turbines. Consequently, this PhD will focus on reliability of both on and offshore wind turbines from the kW to multi MW range.  As well as quantifying reliability of wind turbines and their components through data driven and expert elicitation techniques this work will also focus on the physics of wind turbine components to systematically estimate the vulnerability of main components to certain failure modes and increased failure rates as wind turbines scale.  

Entry Requirements

This fully funded studentship (Fees, Enhanced Stipend and travel budget) is available to UK applicants with (or about to obtain) a minimum of a 2.1 Masters or 1st Class Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics or Maths.

Applying

For further enquiries related to the Centre for Doctoral Training contact: Drew Smith, CDT Administrator, Tel: 0141 548 2880, Email: drew.smith@strath.ac.uk

For further enquiries related to the PhD research topic contact: j.carroll@strath.ac.uk or alasdair.mcdonald@ed.ac.uk