Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain
<p>Terrain-induced flow phenomena modulate wind turbine performance and wake behavior in ways that are not adequately accounted for in typical wind turbine wake and wind plant design models. In this work, we simulate flow over two parallel ridges with a wind turbine on one of the ridges, focus...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Wind Energy Science |
| Online Access: | https://wes.copernicus.org/articles/7/367/2022/wes-7-367-2022.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819274237698899968 |
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| author | A. S. Wise J. M. T. Neher R. S. Arthur J. D. Mirocha J. K. Lundquist J. K. Lundquist F. K. Chow |
| author_facet | A. S. Wise J. M. T. Neher R. S. Arthur J. D. Mirocha J. K. Lundquist J. K. Lundquist F. K. Chow |
| author_sort | A. S. Wise |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Terrain-induced flow phenomena modulate wind turbine performance and wake behavior in ways that are not adequately accounted for in typical wind
turbine wake and wind plant design models. In this work, we simulate flow over two parallel ridges with a wind turbine on one of the ridges,
focusing on conditions observed during the Perdigão field campaign in 2017. Two case studies are selected to be representative of typical flow
conditions at the site, including the effects of atmospheric stability: a stable case where a mountain wave occurs (as in <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 50 % of the
nights observed) and a convective case where a recirculation zone forms in the lee of the ridge with the turbine (as occurred over 50 % of the
time with upstream winds normal to the ridgeline). We use the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), dynamically downscaled from the
mesoscale (6.75 <span class="inline-formula">km</span> resolution) to microscale large-eddy simulation (LES) at 10 <span class="inline-formula">m</span> resolution, where a generalized actuator disk
(GAD) wind turbine parameterization is used to simulate turbine wakes. We compare the WRF–LES–GAD model results to data from meteorological towers,
lidars, and a tethered lifting system, showing good qualitative and quantitative agreement for both case studies. Significantly, the wind turbine wake shows different amounts of vertical deflection from the terrain and persistence downstream in the two stability regimes. In the stable case, the wake follows the terrain along with the mountain wave and deflects downwards by nearly 100 <span class="inline-formula">m</span> below hub height at four rotor diameters downstream. In the convective case, the wake deflects above the recirculation zone over 40 <span class="inline-formula">m</span> above hub height at the same downstream distance. Overall, the WRF–LES–GAD model is able to capture the observed behavior of the wind turbine wakes, demonstrating the model's ability to represent wakes over complex terrain for two distinct and representative atmospheric stability classes, and, potentially, to improve wind turbine siting and operation in hilly landscapes.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T23:05:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d975b89522247378bb36016e1b2c824 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2366-7443 2366-7451 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T23:05:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wind Energy Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d975b89522247378bb36016e1b2c8242022-12-21T17:26:50ZengCopernicus PublicationsWind Energy Science2366-74432366-74512022-02-01736738610.5194/wes-7-367-2022Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrainA. S. Wise0J. M. T. Neher1R. S. Arthur2J. D. Mirocha3J. K. Lundquist4J. K. Lundquist5F. K. Chow6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USALawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USALawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USANational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA<p>Terrain-induced flow phenomena modulate wind turbine performance and wake behavior in ways that are not adequately accounted for in typical wind turbine wake and wind plant design models. In this work, we simulate flow over two parallel ridges with a wind turbine on one of the ridges, focusing on conditions observed during the Perdigão field campaign in 2017. Two case studies are selected to be representative of typical flow conditions at the site, including the effects of atmospheric stability: a stable case where a mountain wave occurs (as in <span class="inline-formula">∼</span> 50 % of the nights observed) and a convective case where a recirculation zone forms in the lee of the ridge with the turbine (as occurred over 50 % of the time with upstream winds normal to the ridgeline). We use the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), dynamically downscaled from the mesoscale (6.75 <span class="inline-formula">km</span> resolution) to microscale large-eddy simulation (LES) at 10 <span class="inline-formula">m</span> resolution, where a generalized actuator disk (GAD) wind turbine parameterization is used to simulate turbine wakes. We compare the WRF–LES–GAD model results to data from meteorological towers, lidars, and a tethered lifting system, showing good qualitative and quantitative agreement for both case studies. Significantly, the wind turbine wake shows different amounts of vertical deflection from the terrain and persistence downstream in the two stability regimes. In the stable case, the wake follows the terrain along with the mountain wave and deflects downwards by nearly 100 <span class="inline-formula">m</span> below hub height at four rotor diameters downstream. In the convective case, the wake deflects above the recirculation zone over 40 <span class="inline-formula">m</span> above hub height at the same downstream distance. Overall, the WRF–LES–GAD model is able to capture the observed behavior of the wind turbine wakes, demonstrating the model's ability to represent wakes over complex terrain for two distinct and representative atmospheric stability classes, and, potentially, to improve wind turbine siting and operation in hilly landscapes.</p>https://wes.copernicus.org/articles/7/367/2022/wes-7-367-2022.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. S. Wise J. M. T. Neher R. S. Arthur J. D. Mirocha J. K. Lundquist J. K. Lundquist F. K. Chow Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain Wind Energy Science |
| title | Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain |
| title_full | Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain |
| title_fullStr | Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain |
| title_short | Meso- to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain |
| title_sort | meso to microscale modeling of atmospheric stability effects on wind turbine wake behavior in complex terrain |
| url | https://wes.copernicus.org/articles/7/367/2022/wes-7-367-2022.pdf |
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