Using the coupled wake boundary layer model to evaluate the effect of turbulence intensity on wind-farm performance

Stevens, R.J.A.M.; Gayme, D.F.; Meneveau, C.

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/625/1/012004

Using the coupled wake boundary layer model to evaluate the effect of turbulence intensity on wind-farm performance

R.J.A.M. Stevens, D.F. Gayme, C. Meneveau, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 625, 012004 (2015).

Main finding

The generalized CWBL predicts lower wake deficits with higher ambient TI and greater sensitivity in downstream rows. Model trends compare reasonably with Horns Rev and the selected LES case, but direction-dependent field behavior is stronger in two sectors and the discrepancy is unresolved.

Power deficit along turbine rows for three ambient turbulence intensities — **How to read the figure.** Power deficit along the rows of a wind farm at seven-diameter streamwise spacing, for three ambient turbulence intensities. Higher ambient turbulence gives smaller deficits, and the spread between the cases widens down the rows, so the downstream turbines are the most sensitive to inflow turbulence. Figure 4 compares this against field data by wind direction, where two sectors disagree with the model and the discrepancy is unresolved. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 3. R.J.A.M. Stevens et al. (2015). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Supports the conditional statement that higher modeled ambient TI weakens downstream deficits.

Research context

Higher ambient turbulence accelerates wake expansion in the coupled model. Atmospheric stability can also change shear, veer, boundary-layer height, mixing length, and turbine-scale transport, so turbulence intensity alone is not causally sufficient.

Read the article View in the complete publication list Related wind-farm research