Identification

Title

Large eddy simulation of wind turbine wake dynamics in the stable boundary layer using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

Abstract

Recently, an actuator disk parameterization was implemented in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model for large eddy simulation (LES) of wind turbine wakes. To thoroughly verify this model, simulations of various types of turbines and atmospheric conditions must be evaluated against corresponding experimental data. In this work, numerical simulations are compared to nacelle-based scanning lidar measurements taken in stable atmospheric conditions during a field campaign conducted at a wind farm in the western United States. Using several wake characteristics—such as the velocity deficit, centerline location, and wake width—as metrics for model verification, the simulations show good agreement with the observations. Notable results include a high average velocity deficit, decreasing from 73% at a downwind distance x of 1.2 rotor diameters (D) to 25% at x = 6.6D, resulting from a low average wind speed and therefore high average turbine thrust coefficient. Moreover, the wake width expands from 1.4D at x = 1.2D to 2.3D at x = 6.6D. Finally, new features—namely rotor tilt and drag from the nacelle and tower—are added to the existing actuator disk model in WRF-LES. Compared to the rotor, the effect of the tower and nacelle on the flow is relatively small but nevertheless important for an accurate representation of the entire turbine. Adding rotor tilt to the model causes the vertical location of the wake center to shift upward. Continued advancement of the actuator disk model in WRF-LES will help lead to optimized turbine siting and controls at wind farms.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d74b32wf

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2014-06-24T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact