A Review of Road Design for Wind Farms in China

Abstract

Complex terrain conditions of wind farms, the large weight and the long size of wind turbine equipment, the high economic requirements of transportation on roads, and a shortage of relevant standards and codes lead to difficulty in road design and route selection of wind farms. In addition, frequent excavations and landfills in wind farm construction have seriously destroyed vegetation cover and soil structure on the primary surface, resulting in a large amount of water and soil loss and ecological damage to the wind farm. In view of the above problems, this paper reviews the relevant research status of the wind farm road route selection method, circular curve, longitudinal section design index, and water and soil loss problems, and summarizes them. Several calculation models for circular curve widening, the recommendation of a minimum radius under different restrictions, calculation models for longitudinal slope and vertical curve, and recommended values are listed. The causes of water and soil losses in wind farms are discussed and the characteristics of the diversity of erosion and the uneven distribution of time and space are put forward. Prediction models of wind farm water and soil loss and comprehensive prevention measures are given. The existing problems in the road design field of wind farms are put forward and the future development direction in this field is forecasted.