Turbulence assessment at potential turbine sites

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:447473

Daniels, A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI (United States)

As opposed to a fixed anemometer, the Tala kite is free to move in the air. The motion of the kite is not random, it moves with or against the speed gradient towards the center of passing turbulence events of higher or lower speeds thus allowing the kite to measure event maximum or minimum speed rather than the speed at some unknown distance from the event center like a fixed anemometer. This behavior is confirmed both by a theoretical aerodynamics analysis of the kite motion and by data from a field study where kite and hot film anemometer (HFA) events, defined by the rain flow count method, were compared with flap events on a rotating turbine blade. The HFAs simulated too few events lasting too long while the kites reproduced both the number of events and event periods remarkably close. It is concluded that the kite is the optimal tool for measuring turbulence at potential turbine sites. Kite turbulence can form the bases for economic return estimates and an example is given where less windy sites could be more economical than other more turbulent higher speed sites. 13 refs., 8 figs.

• Research Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
• OSTI ID: 447473
• Report Number(s): CONF-960630--; ON: DE97002833
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
MEASURING METHODS
SITE SELECTION
TURBULENCE
WIND TURBINE ARRAYS
WIND TURBINES