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Accelerated Wind-Turbine Wake Recovery Through Actuation of the Tip-Vortex Instability

Journal Article · · AIAA Journal
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/1.j060772· OSTI ID:1872006
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  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
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Advances in wind-plant control have often focused on more effectively balancing power between neighboring turbines. Wake steering is one such method that provides control-based improvements in a quasi-static way, but this does little to fundamentally change the wake recovery process, and thus, it has limited potential. This study investigates use of another control paradigm known as dynamic wake control (DWC) to excite the mutual inductance instability between adjacent tip-vortex structures, thereby accelerating the breakdown of the structures. The current work carries this approach beyond the hypothetical by applying the excitation via turbine control vectors that already exist on all modern wind turbines: blade pitch and rotor speed control. The investigation leverages a free-vortex wake method (FVWM) that allows a thorough exploration of relevant frequencies and amplitudes of harmonic forcing for each control vector (as well as the phase difference between the vectors for a tandem configuration) while still capturing the essential tip-vortex dynamics. The FVWM output feeds into a Fourier stability analysis working to pinpoint candidate DWC strategies suggesting fastest wake recovery. Near-wake length reductions of >80% are demonstrated, although without considering inflow turbulence. Analysis is provided to interpret these predictions considering the presence of turbulence in a real atmospheric inflow.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Hydropower Technology Program (EE-2B)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1872006
Report Number(s):
SAND2022-1997J; 706198
Journal Information:
AIAA Journal, Journal Name: AIAA Journal Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 60; ISSN 0001-1452
Publisher:
AIAACopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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