Characterizing the Transitional Behavior of Wind Turbine Wake From Near to Far Wake Regimes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Kumar ◽  
Ojing Siram ◽  
Niranjan Sahoo ◽  
Ujjwal K. Saha
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Velocity Deficit ◽  
Turbine Wake ◽  
Far Wake ◽  
Wake Characteristics

Abstract Knowledge of wind energy harvesting is an ever-growing process, and to meet the enormous energy demand, wind farms shall have a significant role. An efficient wind farm is required to have an in-depth knowledge of turbine wake characteristics. This article presents an experimental investigation of the wake expansion process defined by the transition of wake from near to far wake regimes. The study has been performed on models horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) composed of NACA 0012 profile, keeping the ratio of root chord to tip chord length is 5:2. A constant temperature hot-wire anemometer (HWA) has been used to examine the rotor’s fluctuating flow field. The subsequent time-averaged normalizes velocity deficit, and vortex shedding frequency are used for the flow characteristics. Time-averaged velocity deficit measurement suggests a drop in upstream velocity by 20–30% within the vicinity of rotor tip downstream of the rotor plane. The study shows that flow recovery is initiating from the near wake regime around 1.08R. Further, the spectral findings indicates the low frequency dominance within 4R (R being the rotor radius), and the Strouhal number falls close to 0.23. The present wind tunnel study on wake characteristics throws significant insight into further enhancing the WT wake modeling.

Effect of wind turbine nacelle on turbine wake dynamics in large wind farms

2019 ◽  
Vol 869 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Foti ◽  
Xiaolei Yang ◽  
Lian Shen ◽  
Fotis Sotiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Coherent Structures ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Velocity Deficit ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Turbine Wake

Wake meandering, a phenomenon of large-scale lateral oscillation of the wake, has significant effects on the velocity deficit and turbulence intensities in wind turbine wakes. Previous studies of a single turbine (Kang et al., J. Fluid. Mech., vol. 774, 2014, pp. 374–403; Foti et al., Phys. Rev. Fluids, vol. 1 (4), 2016, 044407) have shown that the turbine nacelle induces large-scale coherent structures in the near field that can have a significant effect on wake meandering. However, whether nacelle-induced coherent structures at the turbine scale impact the emergent turbine wake dynamics at the wind farm scale is still an open question of both fundamental and practical significance. We take on this question by carrying out large-eddy simulation of atmospheric turbulent flow over the Horns Rev wind farm using actuator surface parameterisations of the turbines without and with the turbine nacelle taken into account. While the computed mean turbine power output and the mean velocity field away from the nacelle wake are similar for both cases, considerable differences are found in the turbine power fluctuations and turbulence intensities. Furthermore, wake meandering amplitude and area defined by wake meanders, which indicates the turbine wake unsteadiness, are larger for the simulations with the turbine nacelle. The wake influenced area computed from the velocity deficit profiles, which describes the spanwise extent of the turbine wakes, and the spanwise growth rate, on the other hand, are smaller for some rows in the simulation with the nacelle model. Our work shows that incorporating the nacelle model in wind farm scale simulations is critical for accurate predictions of quantities that affect the wind farm levelised cost of energy, such as the dynamics of wake meandering and the dynamic loads on downwind turbines.

scholarly journals Utility-Scale Wind Turbine Wake Characterization Using Nacelle-Based Long-Range Scanning Lidar

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1529-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Aitken ◽  
Julie K. Lundquist
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Thrust Coefficient ◽  
Velocity Deficit ◽  
Scanning Lidar ◽  
Range Scanning ◽  
Utility Scale ◽  
Turbine Wake ◽  
Wind Turbine Wake

Abstract To facilitate the optimization of turbine spacing at modern wind farms, computational simulations of wake effects must be validated through comparison with full-scale field measurements of wakes from utility-scale turbines operating in the real atmosphere. Scanning remote sensors are particularly well suited for this objective, as they can sample wind fields over large areas at high temporal and spatial resolutions. Although ground-based systems are useful, the vantage point from the nacelle is favorable in that scans can more consistently transect the central part of the wake. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the work described here represents the first analysis in the published literature of a utility-scale wind turbine wake using nacelle-based long-range scanning lidar. The results presented are of a field experiment conducted in the fall of 2011 at a wind farm in the western United States, quantifying wake attributes such as the velocity deficit, centerline location, and wake width. Notable findings include a high average velocity deficit, decreasing from 60% at a downwind distance x of 1.8 rotor diameters (D) to 40% at x = 6D, resulting from a low average wind speed and therefore a high average turbine thrust coefficient. Moreover, the wake width was measured to expand from 1.5D at x = 1.8D to 2.5D at x = 6D. Both the wake growth rate and the amplitude of wake meandering were observed to be greater for high ambient turbulence intensity and daytime conditions as compared to low turbulence and nocturnal conditions.

scholarly journals FLOWSTAR-Energy: a high resolution wind farm wake model

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Stidworthy ◽  
David Carruthers
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Farm ◽  
Wake Model ◽  
Turbine Wake

Abstract. A new model, FLOWSTAR-Energy, has been developed for the practical calculation of wind farm energy production. It includes a semi-analytic model for airflow over complex surfaces (FLOWSTAR) and a wind turbine wake model that simulates wake-wake interaction by exploiting some similarities between the decay of a wind turbine wake and the dispersion of plume of passive gas emitted from an elevated source. Additional turbulence due to the wind shear at the wake edge is included and the assumption is made that wind turbines are only affected by wakes from upstream wind turbines. The model takes account of the structure of the atmospheric boundary layer, which means that the effect of atmospheric stability is included. A marine boundary layer scheme is also included to enable offshore as well as onshore sites to be modelled. FLOWSTAR-Energy has been used to model three different wind farms and the predicted energy output compared with measured data. Maps of wind speed and turbulence have also been calculated for two of the wind farms. The Tjaæreborg wind farm is an onshore site consisting of a single 2 MW wind turbine, the NoordZee offshore wind farm consists of 36 V90 VESTAS 3 MW turbines and the Nysted offshore wind farm consists of 72 Bonus 2.3 MW turbines. The NoordZee and Nysted measurement datasets include stability distribution data, which was included in the modelling. Of the two offshore wind farm datasets, the Noordzee dataset focuses on a single 5-degree wind direction sector and therefore only represents a limited number of measurements (1,284); whereas the Nysted dataset captures data for seven 5-degree wind direction sectors and represents a larger number of measurements (84,363). The best agreement between modelled and measured data was obtained with the Nysted dataset, with high correlation (0.98 or above) and low normalised mean square error (0.007 or below) for all three flow cases. The results from Tjæreborg show that the model replicates the Gaussian shape of the wake deficit two turbine diameters downstream of the turbine, but the lack of stability information in this dataset makes it difficult to draw conclusions about model performance. One of the key strengths of FLOWSTAR-Energy is its ability to model the effects of complex terrain on the airflow. However, although the airflow model has been previously compared extensively with flow data, it has so far not been used in detail to predict energy yields from wind farms in complex terrain. This will be the subject of a further validation study for FLOWSTAR-Energy.

scholarly journals Experimental Study and Simulation of a Small-Scale Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall S. Jackson ◽  
Ryoichi Amano
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Reynolds Stress Model ◽  
Turbulence Closure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stress Model ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Velocity Deficit

The advancement of wind energy as an alternative source to hydrocarbons depends heavily on research activities in turbulence modeling and experimentation. The velocity deficit behind wind turbines affects the power output and efficiency of a wind farm. Being able to simulate the wake dynamics of a wind turbine effectively can result in optimum spacing, longer wind turbine life, and shorter payback on the wind farm investment. Two-equation turbulence closure models, such as k–ε and k–ω, are used extensively to predict wind turbine performance and velocity deficit profiles. The application of the Reynolds stress model (RSM) turbulence closure method has been limited to few studies where the rotor is modeled as an actuator disk (AD). The computational cost associated with RSM has made it challenging for simulations where the rotor is discretized directly; however, with advances in computer speed and power coupled with parallel computing architecture, RSM may be a better turbulence closure option. In this research, wind tunnel experiments were conducted, using hot-wire anemometry, to measure the velocity deficit profiles at different wake locations behind a small-scale, three-bladed, horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). Experiments were also performed with two and three HAWTs in series to evaluate the change in velocity deficit and turbulence intensity (TI). High-speed imaging with an oil-based mist captured the vortices produced at the blade tips and showed the vortices dissipated approximately three rotor diameters downstream. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to predict the velocity deficit at wake locations matching the experiments. The Reynolds stress model was applied to a fully discretized rotor with a tower and nacelle included in the simulation. A steady-state moving reference frame (MRF) model was created with the computational domain subdivided into rotating and stationary domains. The MRF results were used as an initial condition for time-accurate rigid body motion (RBM) simulations. The RBM CFD simulations showed excellent agreement with experimental measurements for velocity deficit after properly accounting for experimental boundary effects. Isosurfaces of the Q-criterion highlighted the vortices produced at the blade tips and were consistent with high-speed images.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in Wind Turbine Noise Research

Acoustics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Hansen ◽  
Kristy Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Horizontal Axis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Noise Generation ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbine Noise

This review is focussed on large-scale, horizontal-axis upwind turbines. Vertical-axis turbines are not considered here as they are not sufficiently efficient to be deployed in the commercial generation of electricity. Recent developments in horizontal-axis wind turbine noise research are summarised and topics that are pertinent to the problem, but are yet to be investigated, are explored and suggestions for future research are offered. The major portion of recent and current research on wind turbine noise generation, propagation and its effects on people and animals is being undertaken by groups in Europe, UK, USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Considerable progress has been made in understanding wind turbine noise generation and propagation as well as the effect of wind farm noise on people, birds and animals. However, much remains to be done to answer many of the questions for which answers are still uncertain. In addition to community concerns about the effect of wind farm noise on people and how best to regulate wind farm noise and check installed wind farms for compliance, there is considerable interest from turbine manufacturers in developing quieter rotors, with the intention of allowing wind farm installations to be closer to populated areas. The purpose of this paper is to summarise recent and current wind farm noise research work and the research questions that remain to be addressed or are in the process of being addressed. Topics that are the subject of on-going research are discussed briefly and references to recent and current work are included.

scholarly journals Non-Equilibrium Scaling Applied to the Wake Evolution of a Model Scale Wind Turbine

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 2763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor P. Stein ◽  
Hans-Jakob Kaltenbach
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Reynolds Stress ◽  
Wake Region ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Self Similarity ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Velocity Deficit ◽  
Stress Components ◽  
Far Wake ◽  
Non Equilibrium

The present paper addresses the evolution of turbulence characteristics in wind turbine wakes immersed in a turbulent boundary layer. The study thereby focuses on finding physically consistent scaling laws for the wake width, the velocity deficit, and the Reynolds stresses in the far wake region. For this purpose, the concept of an added wake is derived which allows to analyse the self-similarity of the added flow quantities and the applicability of the non-equilibrium dissipation theory. The investigation is based on wind tunnel measurements in the wake of a three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbine model (HAWT) immersed in two neutrally-stratified turbulent boundary layers of different aerodynamic roughness length. The dataset also includes wake measurements for various yaw angles. A high degree of self-similarity is found in the lateral profiles of the velocity deficit and of the added Reynolds stress components. It is shown that these can be described by combined Gaussian shape functions. In the vertical, self-similarity can just be shown in the upper part of the wake. Moreover, it is observed that the degree of self-similarity is affected by the ground roughness. Results suggest an approximately constant anisotropy of the added turbulent stresses in the far wake, and the axial scaling of the added Reynolds stress components is found to be in accordance with non-equilibrium dissipation theory. It predicts a x − 1 decay of the added turbulent intensity I + , and a x − 2 evolution of the added Reynolds shear stresses Δ u i ′ u j ′ ¯ and the velocity deficit Δ u . Based on these findingsa semi-empirical model is proposed for predicting the Reynolds stresses in the far wake region which can easily be coupled with existing analytical wake models. The proposed model is found to be in good agreement with the measurement results.

scholarly journals Analysis of rotorcraft wind turbine wake encounters using piloted simulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Štrbac ◽  
Tanja Martini ◽  
Daniel H. Greiwe ◽  
Frauke Hoffmann ◽  
Michael Jones
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
Vortex Wake ◽  
Offshore Wind Farms ◽  
Turbine Wake ◽  
Wind Turbine Wake

AbstractThe use of offshore wind farms in Europe to provide a sustainable alternative energy source is now considered normal. Particularly in the North Sea, a large number of wind farms exist with a significant distance from the coast. This is becoming standard practice as larger areas are required to support operations. Efficient transport and monitoring of these wind farms can only be conducted using helicopters. As wind turbines continue to grow in size, there is a need to continuously update operational requirements for these helicopters, to ensure safe operations. This study assesses German regulations for flight corridors within offshore wind farms. A semi-empirical wind turbine wake model is used to generate velocity data for the research flight simulator AVES. The reference offshore wind turbine NREL 5 MW has been used and scaled to represent wind turbine of different sizes. This paper reports result from a simulation study concerning vortex wake encounter during offshore operations. The results have been obtained through piloted simulation for a transport case through a wind farm. Both subjective and objective measures are used to assess the severity of vortex wake encounters.

scholarly journals Distinct Turbulent Regions in the Wake of a Wind Turbine and Their Inflow-Dependent Locations: The Creation of a Wake Map

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5392
Author(s):  
Ingrid Neunaber ◽  
Michael Hölling ◽  
Richard J. A. M. Stevens ◽  
Gerard Schepers ◽  
Joachim Peinke
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Turbulence Modeling ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Turbulence Analysis ◽  
Turbine Wake ◽  
Wind Turbine Wake

Wind turbines are usually clustered in wind farms which causes the downstream turbines to operate in the turbulent wakes of upstream turbines. As turbulence is directly related to increased fatigue loads, knowledge of the turbulence in the wake and its evolution are important. Therefore, the main objective of this study is a comprehensive exploration of the turbulence evolution in the wind turbine’s wake to identify characteristic turbulence regions. For this, we present an experimental study of three model wind turbine wake scenarios that were scanned with hot-wire anemometry with a very high downstream resolution. The model wind turbine was exposed to three inflows: laminar inflow as a reference case, a central wind turbine wake, and half of the wake of an upstream turbine. A detailed turbulence analysis reveals four downstream turbulence regions by means of the mean velocity, variance, turbulence intensity, energy spectra, integral and Taylor length scales, and the Castaing parameter that indicates the intermittency, or gustiness, of turbulence. In addition, a wake core with features of homogeneous isotropic turbulence and a ring of high intermittency surrounding the wake can be identified. The results are important for turbulence modeling in wakes and optimization of wind farm wake control.

scholarly journals Flow Characteristics of a Straight-Bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Inclined Pitch Axes

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 6281
Author(s):  
Jia Guo ◽  
Liping Lei
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Incline Angle ◽  
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Unsteady Wake ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Currently, vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) are considered as an alternative technology to horizontal axis wind turbines in specific wind conditions, such as offshore farms. However, complex unsteady wake structures of VAWTs exert a significant influence on performance of wind turbines and wind farms. In the present study, instantaneous flow fields around and downstream of an innovative VAWT with inclined pitch axes are simulated by an actuator line model. Unsteady flow characteristics around the wind turbine with variations of azimuthal angles are discussed. Several fluid parameters are then evaluated on horizontal and vertical planes under conditions of various fold angles and incline angles. Results show that the total estimated wind energy in the shadow of the wind turbine with an incline angle of 30° and 150° is 4.6% higher than that with an incline angle of 90°. In this way, appropriate arrangements of wind turbines with various incline angles have the potential to obtain more power output in a wind farm.

A Hybrid Free Wake Simulation Comparison of Turbine Wake Steering With Innovative Turbine Designs

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keye Su ◽  
Donald B. Bliss
Keyword(s):  
Wind Farm ◽  
Vortex Lattice ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Lattice Method ◽  
Vortex Lattice Method ◽  
Turbine Efficiency ◽  
Unsteady Effects ◽  
Free Wake ◽  
Turbine Wake ◽  
Far Wake

Wake shielding in wind farms caused by the interaction of upstream energy-depleted wakes and down-stream turbines substantially reduces individual turbine efficiency and overall wind farm performance. A method is studied to alleviate this problem using shaft tilting to steer wakes upward and reduce the interaction with downstream turbines. Simulations have been conducted to verify this method and to assess its effectiveness. These simulations employ a specially developed hybrid free wake method that combines a Constant Circulation Contour Model, suitable for downwind far-wake evolution, with a Vortex Lattice Method, leading to accurate blade air-loads calculation, including unsteady effects, stall, and reduced complexity. The interaction of two inline tipped axis turbines has been analyzed to assess the advantages and challenges of wake steering in a system of turbines. Beyond the traditional HAWT, two unconventional turbine configurations have been studied with the intent to further increase wake ascent.

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