A review of physical and numerical modeling techniques for horizontal-axis wind turbine wakes

Abstract

Wake effects within a wind farm are identified as one of the main factors impacting wind farm power production and fatigue loading on wind turbines’ structural elements. An efficient representation of wake effects is crucial for both the optimal layout design and real-time configuration of a control strategy of the wind farm to reduce the impact of wake losses. Accordingly, this study provides an overview and analysis of the recent progress in the most common existing physical and numerical modeling techniques for horizontal-axis wind turbine wakes. The techniques addressed here range from high-fidelity CFD and physical testing approaches to low-fidelity analytical models. In addition to describing the physical basis, formulations, fundamental assumptions, and limitations, this study provides a discussion of the usefulness of each modeling technique and possible further research on challenges in modeling wind turbine wakes that have not yet been adequately addressed.