Richard J.A.M. Stevens

Physics of Fluids · University of Twente

Publication 40 · Wind-farm flow

Generalized coupled wake boundary layer model

R.J.A.M. Stevens, D.F. Gayme, C. Meneveau, Wind Energy 19 (11), 2023-2040 (2016).

Main finding

The generalized CWBL formulation replaces the original lattice-specific effective spacing with a direction-specific Jensen-derived wake-area fraction and reduces the reported RMS relative Horns Rev LES total-power discrepancy from 9.5% for Jensen to 6.3% for CWBL. This supports a useful deep-array correction for the tested neutral steady direction sweep, but neither uniquely validates w_f or k_w,∞ nor establishes general operational wind-farm skill.

Normalised wind farm power against wind direction with two model predictions
How to read the figure. Total wind farm power against wind direction over a full sweep, with large-eddy simulation as symbols and two wake models drawn through it. The coupled wake boundary layer model follows the simulation through the troughs where the Jensen model undershoots, reducing the root-mean-square discrepancy from 9.5% to 6.3%. This is a deep-array correction demonstrated over one neutral steady direction sweep; it neither uniquely validates the closure parameters nor establishes general operational skill. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 8. R.J.A.M. Stevens et al. (2016). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Why a farm-scale atmospheric model can correct a turbine-by-turbine wake model downstream.

Research context

The generalized model replaces lattice-specific spacing with a direction-dependent wake-area measure while retaining the top-down momentum closure. Later LES comparisons, power-density analyses, and energy budgets test farm behavior that this steady reduced-order framework cannot resolve directly.

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