Abstract
The wind power potential in Interior Alaska is evaluated from a micrometeorological perspective. Based on the local balance equation of momentum and the equation of continuity we derive the local balance equation of kinetic energy for macroscopic and turbulent systems, and in a further step, Bernoulli’s equation and integral equations that customarily serve as the key equations in momentum theory and blade-element analysis, where the Lanchester-Betz-Joukowsky limit, Glauert’s optimum actuator disk, and the results of the blade-element analysis by Okulov and Sorensen are exemplarily illustrated. The wind power potential at three different sites in Interior Alaska (Delta Junction, Eva Creek, and Poker Flat) is assessed by considering the results of wind field predictions for the winter period from October 1, 2008, to April 1, 2009 provided by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to avoid time-consuming and expensive tall-tower observations in Interior Alaska which is characterized by a relatively low degree of infrastructure outside of the city of Fairbanks. To predict the average power output we use the Weibull distributions derived from the predicted wind fields for these three different sites and the power curves of five different propeller-type wind turbines with rated powers ranging from 2 MW to 2.5 MW. These power curves are represented by general logistic functions. The predicted power capacity for the Eva Creek site is compared with that of the Eva Creek wind farm established in 2012. The results of our predictions for the winter period 2008/2009 are nearly 20 percent lower than those of the Eva Creek wind farm for the period from January to September 2013.
Highlights
Countries around the world are becoming more industrial-ized raising global energy demand
To parameterize in mesoscale numerical models of the atmosphere the behavior of a wind turbine to act as a sink of kinetic energy transported by the wind field, the wind power density related to the power curve may be considered
The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)/Chem simulations were performed within the framework of air quality studies by Mölders et al [20] before the Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) established their 80-meter meteorological towers at Eva Creek site and the 50-meter meteorological tower on Walker Dome in October 2009
Summary
In 2011, an independent assessment of the Eva Creek Wind Farm project was already performed by Hinzman and Kramm [14] They used the wind field predictions (hourly basis) for the winter period 2008/2009 (performed by Mölders using the Alaska-adapted WRF/Chem setup, see Section 3) and the power curve of the propeller-type turbine REpower MM92 (cold climate version, CCV) matched by the sigmoidal function ( ) P (v) =A − ( A − B)exp −(kv)d (1.1). In accord with Storm et al [15], Storm and Basu [16], Mölders and Kramm [10], Mölders et al [18], and Hinzman and Kramm [14], we consider low-level wind field characteristics predicted by WRF/Chem [20] to assess the wind power potential over Interior Alaska.
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