Abstract
Experiments and numerical simulations of the wake field behind a horizontal-axis wind turbine are carried out to investigate the interaction between the atmospheric boundary layer and a stand-alone wind turbine. The tested wind turbine (33 kW) has a rotor diameter of 14.8 m and hub height of 15.4 m. An anti-icing digital Sonic wind meter, an atmospheric pressure sensor, and a temperature and humidity sensor are installed in the upstream wind measurement mast. Wake velocity is measured by three US CSAT3 ultrasonic anemometers. To reflect the characteristics of the whole flow field, numerical simulations are performed through large eddy simulation (LES) and with the actuator line model. The experimental results show that the axial velocity deficit rate ranges from 32.18% to 63.22% at the three measuring points. Meanwhile, the time-frequency characteristics of the axial velocities at the left and right measuring points are different. Moreover, the average axial and lateral velocity deficit of the right measuring point is greater than that of the left measuring point. The turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) at the middle and right measuring points exhibit a periodic variation, and the vortex sheet-pass frequency is mostly similar to the rotational frequency of the rotor. However, this feature is not obvious for the left measuring point. Meanwhile, the power spectra of the vertical velocity fluctuation show the slope of −1, and those of lateral and axial velocity fluctuations show slopes of −1 and −5/3, respectively. However, the inertial subranges of axial velocity fluctuation at the left, middle, and right measuring points occur at 4, 7, and 7 Hz, respectively. The above conclusion fully illustrates the asymmetry of the left and right measuring points. The experimental data and numerical simulation results collectively indicate that the wake is deflected to the right under the influence of lateral force. Therefore, wake asymmetry can be mainly attributed to the lateral force exerted by the wind turbine on the fluid.
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