Field investigation of a wake structure downwind of a VAWT (vertical-axis wind turbine) in a wind farm array

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6799412

Liu, H T; Buck, J W; Germain, A C; Hinchee, M E; Solt, T S; LeRoy, G M; Srnsky, R A

The effects of upwind turbine wakes on the performance of a FloWind 17-m vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) were investigated through a series of field experiments conducted at the FloWind wind farm on Cameron Ridge, Tehachapi, California. From the field measurements, we derived the velocity and power/energy deficits under various turbine on/off configurations. Much information was provided to characterize the structure of VAWT wakes and to assess their effects on the performance of downwind turbines. A method to estimate the energy deficit was developed based on the measured power deficit and the wind speed distributions. This method may be adopted for other turbine types and sites. Recommendations are made for optimizing wind farm design and operations, as well as for wind energy management. 17 refs., 66 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6799412
• Report Number(s): SERI/STR-217-3370; ON: DE89000821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170600* -- Wind Energy Engineering
ENERGY SOURCES
FIELD TESTS
FLUID FLOW
MACHINERY
OPTIMIZATION
PERFORMANCE
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SITE SURVEYS
TESTING
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
TURBULENT FLOW
VELOCITY
VERTICAL AXIS TURBINES
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINE ARRAYS
WIND TURBINES