LiDAR-assisted load mitigation of wind turbines by Linear Unique Model Predictive Control

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors provide upstream wind speed measurements that can be used to anticipate aerodynamic disturbances and enhance wind turbine control. This study proposes a Linear Unique Model Predictive Control (LUMPC) strategy that leverages LiDAR-based wind preview to reduce structural vibrations in the rotor and tower without the need for dedicated structural actuators such as tuned mass dampers. The controller modifies reference signals using a single linear internal model, with external processing blocks to handle aerodynamic nonlinearities. It operates in parallel with the baseline rotor speed controller, preserving existing control infrastructure and facilitating practical implementation. The proposed system is evaluated in a high-fidelity simulation under the full range of wind conditions, including gusts and turbulence, and is benchmarked against a baseline controller and a version of LUMPC without wind preview. A detailed analysis quantifies the additional control effort required from the collective pitch actuators and the improvement in load mitigation that is achieved in return. Finally, practical conclusions are extracted about the LiDAR-assisted LUMPC as an easy integrated solution for wind turbine lifetime extension.