Abstract
Wind-tunnel experiments were performed to study the effect of favorable and adverse constant pressure gradients (PG) from local changes in the topography right downwind of a model wind turbine. Particle image velocimetry was used to characterize the near and intermediate wake regions. We explored five scenarios, two favorable, two adverse PG, and a case with negligible PG. Results show that the PGs induce a wake deflection and modulate the wake. They imposed a relatively small impact on the turbulence kinetic energy and kinematic shear stress but a comparatively dominant effect on the bulk flow on the flow recovery. Based on this, a simple formulation is used to describe the impact of PG on the wake. We modeled the base flow through a linearized perturbation method; the wake is obtained by solving a simplified, integrated streamwise momentum equation. This approach reasonably estimated the flow profile and PG-induced power output variations.
Highlights
Wind-tunnel experiments were performed to study the effect of favorable and adverse constant pressure gradients (PG) from local changes in the topography right downwind of a model wind turbine
Understanding wind turbine dynamics under negligible pressure gradient may serve as the basis to study the wind turbine wake under terrain effects
Experimental inspection of planar turbulent wakes under adverse and favorable pressure gradients by Liu, et al [5] showed that the wake spreading rate and turbulence intensity are enhanced under an adverse pressure gradient
Summary
Wind-tunnel experiments were performed to study the effect of favorable and adverse constant pressure gradients (PG) from local changes in the topography right downwind of a model wind turbine. Despite our basic understanding of the role of topography on wind turbines, the role of favorable and adverse pressure gradients at even constant values on power output and wake dynamics has not received sufficient attention.
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