Performance analysis of wake models on the energy production of large offshore wind farms

Abstract

ABSTRACT A design process for determining the impact of the simple wake model, park (WAsP) model, and the eddy-viscosity model on the energy production of large offshore wind farms is presented in this study. This process is implemented in the system advisor model simulator. Even though wind turbine components’ electrical transients and physical stress are not covered in this simulator, four large offshore wind farms are successfully simulated. It is found that the simple wake model is more suitable for controlling wake effects on large offshore wind farms than park (WAsP) and eddy-viscosity models. This model produces higher annual energy with a better capacity factor than the other two models. Furthermore, although any generator system could test these wake models’ performance, this study uses single stage low-speed and direct-drive generators. The direct-drive generator produces higher annual energy and better capacity factor on all four offshore wind farms for all three wake models. However, this performance is for a rectangular or square layout of wind turbines on the wind farms, with row orientation 0° and every other row as offset type. This study’s findings significantly optimize wake effect control and wind turbine layout design on large offshore wind farms.