Analysis of Wind Farms under Different Yaw Angles and Wind Speeds

Abstract

Wind farm optimization is pivotal in maximizing energy output, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impact. This study comprehensively explores wind farm behavior under varying wind conditions and yaw angles to achieve these objectives. The primary motivation is to optimize wind farm performance and efficiency through proper yaw adjustment in response to wind speed changes. A computational investigation using a three-by-three wind turbine array was conducted, employing large eddy simulation (LES) to evaluate wind farm performance. Nine LES cases were considered, incorporating three wind speeds (7.3 ms−1, 10.4 ms−1, and 4.3 ms−1) and three yaw angles (30°, 20°, and 0°), with nearly constant turbulence intensity (TI) at 12.0%. The impact of wind speed and yaw angles on wake characteristics and power outputs were analyzed. The findings reveal that wind speed has limited influence on wake characteristics and power outputs, except for lower wind speeds at a yaw angle of 20 degrees. These results contribute to understanding wind farm performance optimization, aiding in developing strategies to enhance energy extraction while minimizing costs and environmental implications.