On the impact of non-Gaussian wind statistics on wind turbines - an experimental approach
Abstract
The effect of intermittent and Gaussian inflow conditions on wind energy converters is studied experimentally. Two different flow situations were created in a wind tunnel using an active grid. Both flows exhibit nearly equal mean velocity values and turbulence intensities, but strongly differ in their two point uτ = u (t + τ) - u (t) on a variety of time scales τ, one being Gaussian distributed, the other one being strongly intermittent. A horizontal axis model wind turbine is exposed to both flows, isolating the effect of the differences not captured by mean values and turbulence intensities on the turbine. Thrust, torque and power data were recorded and analyzed, showing that the model turbine does not smooth out intermittency. Intermittent inflow is converted to similarly intermittent turbine data on all scales considered, reaching down to sub-rotor scales in space, indicating that it is not correct to assume a smoothing of wind speed fluctuations below the size of the rotor.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016APS..DFD.H2009S