Investigation of the wake propagation behind wind turbines over hilly terrain with different slope gradients

Abstract

In this study, a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) numerical simulation with wind turbine simulated through actuator disk model was conducted to quantify the characteristics of wind turbine wake over two-dimensional Gaussian hills with different slope gradients. The simulated flow characteristics in the wind turbine wake, such as velocity deficit, wake expansion and wake centerline, were compared with those given by the Jensen wake model to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of the current engineering wake model for the optimal design of wind turbine layout over complex terrain. For the gentle slope hill, the topography behind the wind turbine has a significant effect on the wake characteristics, which is not taken into account in the Jensen wake model. A new method for calculating wake velocity is proposed based on the local speed-up factor and the simulated velocity in the wake of wind turbine sited on flat terrain that can more reasonably predict the wake velocity over complex terrain. For the steep slope hill, the propagation of wind turbine wake is not related to the hill shape in the region behind the hilltop. The assumption that the wake centerline follows the surface of the hill in the Jensen wake model is no longer applicable. The recovery of wind turbine wake in the far wake region was always faster for the steep slope hill compared with the gentle slope hill case. This acceleration of wake recovery is thought to be closely related to the separation flow at the lee side of the hill, which highly restricts the downward deflection and expansion of the wind turbine wake.