Characterization of flow recirculation zones at the Perdigão site using multi-lidar measurements

Menke, Robert; Vasiljević, Nikola; Mann, Jakob; Lundquist, Julie K.

doi:10.5194/acp-19-2713-2019

Title: Characterization of flow recirculation zones at the Perdigão site using multi-lidar measurements

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2713-2019· OSTI ID:1503157

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Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Because flow recirculation can generate significant amounts of turbulence, it can impact the success of wind energy projects. This study uses unique Doppler lidar observations to quantify occurrences of flow recirculation on lee sides of ridges. An extensive dataset of observations of flow over complex terrain is available from the Perdigão 2017 field campaign over a period of 3 months. The campaign site was selected because of the unique terrain feature of two nearly parallel ridges with a valley-to-ridge-top height difference of about 200 m and a ridge-to-ridge distance of 1.4 km. Six scanning Doppler lidars probed the flow field in several vertical planes orthogonal to the ridges using range–height indicator scans. With this lidar setup, we achieved vertical scans of the recirculation zone at three positions along two parallel ridges. We construct a method to identify flow recirculation zones in the scans, as well as define characteristics of these zones. According to our data analysis, flow recirculation, with reverse flow wind speeds greater than 0.5 m s^-1, occurs over 50 % of the time when the wind direction is perpendicular to the direction of the ridges. Atmospheric conditions, such as atmospheric stability and wind speed, affect the occurrence of flow recirculation. Flow recirculation occurs more frequently during periods with wind speeds above 8 m s^-1. Recirculation within the valley affects the mean wind and turbulence fields at turbine heights on the downwind ridge in magnitudes significant for wind resource assessment.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Science Foundation (NSF); Danish Energy Agency (Denmark)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; AGS-1565498

OSTI ID:: 1503157

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5000-73536

Journal Information:: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online), Vol. 19, Issue 4; ISSN 1680-7324

Publisher:: European Geosciences UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 26 works

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