Multi-scale modeling of a wind turbine wake in complex terrain

Abstract

Comparing numerical simulations of wind turbine wakes in neutral atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flow over complex terrains with full-scale experiments is not always straightforward. Pure neutral ABL conditions are rarely found in the atmosphere as the characteristics of the ABL change during the diurnal cycle. This study presents some insights into how a single wind turbine (WT) and its wake behave under near-neutral ABL conditions in complex terrain. The Perdigão Valley in Portugal was chosen as the test case as it is an excellent case study of three-dimensional flow in complex terrain to validate numerical simulations of WT wake with experimental data due to the availability of extensively deployed remote sensing equipment (e.g., German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Technical University of Denmark (DTU) multi-Doppler lidars). The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) [1] model is utilized in large-eddy simulation (LES) mode in order to simulate the period of interest with a multi-scale modeling approach. Five nested domains, with the finest domain having a spatial resolution of 5 m, are used to dynamically downscale mesoscale flow features to microscale. A generalized actuator line (GAL) WT parameterization is used to model the wind turbine-flow interaction. WRF-LES-GAL (hereinafter referred to as WLG) results compare quite well with the experimental data obtained from lidars and meteorological mast, with minor biases between the simulated and observed data. Due to insufficient buoyancy generation from the WRF-LES model, the simulated track wake was found to have lower vertical deflection compared to the lidar data; hence, no recirculation zone is observed in the valley. Overall, the WLG model is able to reproduce the wake characteristics observed on the first ridge top into the valley, as well as the power and thrust generation, and can be used for further analysis of other stability conditions.