Tethersonde and kite anemometer evaluation

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6884455· OSTI ID:6884455

Chow, W Y; Kirchhoff, R H

The responses of kite anemometers and tethersonde balloons to the dynamics of the wind are investigated in this study. A three-phase effort of theoretical development, experimental measurement, and comparison of data and theory was undertaken to provide further understanding of how a kite or balloon responds to atmospheric turbulence. Understanding the effect on wind velocity measurements obtained using these instruments is important to their use in, for example, identifying optimum wind turbine sites. The theoretical development included: (1) an extension of double theodolite theory, to provide a mechanism for calculating instrument displacement, and (2) linear small perturbation analysis of the effect of atmospheric turbulence on kite or balloon motion. The results of the small perturbation analyses were response equations that analyze the movement of the kite or balloon as a function of the mean elevation angle of the kite or balloon and turbulence parameters of the wind. The response equations provide the ratio of the fluctuating string tension to the mean string tension (for the kite) and the fluctuating elevation angle for the kite and balloon. 18 refs., 66 figs., 22 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA); Massachusetts Univ., Amherst (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6884455
• Report Number(s): PNL-6708; ON: DE89003723
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
440300 -- Miscellaneous Instruments-- (-1989)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
AIRSHIPS
ANEMOMETERS
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
BALLOONS
DATA
DYNAMICS
EQUATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUNCTIONS
INFORMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
TESTING
THEORETICAL DATA
TURBULENCE
WIND