Performance Test of a 3MW Wind Turbine – Effects of Shear and Turbulence

Abstract

In this study a full wind turbine performance test has been performed on a 3MW onshore wind turbine in a coastal location in Norway utilizing a Windcube v2 lidar. The test was performed following the current edition (1. ed) of the IEC 61400-12-1 wind turbine power performance measurement standard with some necessary adaptations for remote sensing anemometry, and was expanded to include wind shear and veer.10 months of data from a Leosphere windcube v2 pulsed lidar, a 3MW wind turbine and a short met-mast formed the basis for the performance test. This amount of data allows for a more detailed analysis of the influence of shear, veer and turbulence on power production than required by the standard. The coastal location of the turbine also allows us to study wind conditions from sea fetch relevant for offshore turbines.The study has demonstrated the benefits and disadvantages of using a lidar for wind turbine performance measurements. Differences between hub height wind and rotor equivalent wind speed has been shown, and results show how turbulence, shear and veer influence the power production and the power curve derived from hub height and equivalent wind speed respectively.