Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain

<p>An automated wind turbine wake characterization algorithm has been developed and applied to a data set of over 19&thinsp;000 scans measured by a ground-based scanning Doppler lidar at Perdigão, Portugal, over the period January to June 2017. Potential wake cases are identified by wind s...

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Main Authors: R. J. Barthelmie, S. C. Pryor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-06-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/3463/2019/amt-12-3463-2019.pdf
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author R. J. Barthelmie
S. C. Pryor
author_facet R. J. Barthelmie
S. C. Pryor
author_sort R. J. Barthelmie
collection DOAJ
description <p>An automated wind turbine wake characterization algorithm has been developed and applied to a data set of over 19&thinsp;000 scans measured by a ground-based scanning Doppler lidar at Perdigão, Portugal, over the period January to June 2017. Potential wake cases are identified by wind speed, direction and availability of a retrieved free-stream wind speed. The algorithm correctly identifies the wake centre position in 62&thinsp;% of possible wake cases, with 46&thinsp;% having a clear and well-defined wake centre surrounded by a coherent area of lower wind speeds while 16&thinsp;% have split centres or multiple lobes where the lower wind speed volumes are no longer in coherent areas but present as two or more distinct areas or lobes. Only 5&thinsp;% of cases are not detected; the remaining 33&thinsp;% could not be categorized either by the algorithm or subjectively, mainly due to the complexity of the background flow. Average wake centre heights categorized by inflow wind speeds are shown to be initially lofted (to two rotor diameters, <span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span>, downstream) except when the inflow wind speeds exceed 12&thinsp;ms<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>. Even under low wind speeds, by 3.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span> downstream of the wind turbine, the mean wake centre position is below the initial wind turbine hub height and descends broadly following the terrain slope. However, this behaviour is strongly linked to the hour of the day and atmospheric stability. Overnight and in stable conditions, the average height of the wake centre is 10&thinsp;m higher than in unstable conditions at 2&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span> downstream from the wind turbine and 17&thinsp;m higher at 4.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span> downstream.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-ab2aa8d4271f44b0aada47f1843e1b902022-12-22T01:57:01ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482019-06-01123463348410.5194/amt-12-3463-2019Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrainR. J. Barthelmie0S. C. Pryor1Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USADepartment of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA<p>An automated wind turbine wake characterization algorithm has been developed and applied to a data set of over 19&thinsp;000 scans measured by a ground-based scanning Doppler lidar at Perdigão, Portugal, over the period January to June 2017. Potential wake cases are identified by wind speed, direction and availability of a retrieved free-stream wind speed. The algorithm correctly identifies the wake centre position in 62&thinsp;% of possible wake cases, with 46&thinsp;% having a clear and well-defined wake centre surrounded by a coherent area of lower wind speeds while 16&thinsp;% have split centres or multiple lobes where the lower wind speed volumes are no longer in coherent areas but present as two or more distinct areas or lobes. Only 5&thinsp;% of cases are not detected; the remaining 33&thinsp;% could not be categorized either by the algorithm or subjectively, mainly due to the complexity of the background flow. Average wake centre heights categorized by inflow wind speeds are shown to be initially lofted (to two rotor diameters, <span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span>, downstream) except when the inflow wind speeds exceed 12&thinsp;ms<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>. Even under low wind speeds, by 3.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span> downstream of the wind turbine, the mean wake centre position is below the initial wind turbine hub height and descends broadly following the terrain slope. However, this behaviour is strongly linked to the hour of the day and atmospheric stability. Overnight and in stable conditions, the average height of the wake centre is 10&thinsp;m higher than in unstable conditions at 2&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span> downstream from the wind turbine and 17&thinsp;m higher at 4.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><i>D</i></span> downstream.</p>https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/3463/2019/amt-12-3463-2019.pdf
spellingShingle R. J. Barthelmie
S. C. Pryor
Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
title_full Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
title_fullStr Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
title_full_unstemmed Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
title_short Automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
title_sort automated wind turbine wake characterization in complex terrain
url https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/3463/2019/amt-12-3463-2019.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT rjbarthelmie automatedwindturbinewakecharacterizationincomplexterrain
AT scpryor automatedwindturbinewakecharacterizationincomplexterrain