A Viscous Three-Dimensional Differential/Actuator-Disk Method for the Aerodynamic Analysis of Wind Farms

Abstract

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a promising tool for the analysis and optimization of wind turbine positioning inside wind parks (also known as wind farms) in order to maximize power production. In this paper, 3-D, time-averaged, steady-state, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, in which wind turbines are represented by surficial forces, are solved using a Control-Volume Finite Element Method (CVFEM). The fundamentals of developing a practical 3-D method are discussed in this paper, with an emphasis on some of the challenges that arose during their implementation. For isolated turbines, results have indicated that the proposed 3-D method attains the same level of accuracy, in terms of performance predictions, as the previously developed 2-D axisymmetric method and the well-known momentum-strip theory. Furthermore, the capability of the proposed method to predict wind turbine wake characteristics is also illustrated. Satisfactory agreement with experimental measurements has been achieved. The analysis of a two-row periodic wind farm in neutral atmospheric boundary layers demonstrate the existence of positive interference effects (venturi effects) as well as the dominant influence of mutual interference on the performance of dense wind turbine clusters.

Wind Turbine Modeling for Computational Fluid Dynamics: December 2010 - December 2012

“…In their work, Ammara et al [10] used the ADM and solved the Navier-Stokes equation with a control-volume finite element method. Axial and tangential forces were taken into account in the model as well as a tip correction factor, to account for blade tip effects.…”

Accuracy of the actuator disc-RANS approach for predicting the performance and wake of tidal turbines

“…Since then it has been applied to several other applications such as the wake of wind turbines in a farm [3]. Recently, it has also been used in a number of cases to study unducted tidal stream turbine wakes [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Wind Park Layout Design Using Combinatorial Optimization

“…The wind park layout design is usually performed in a heuristic trial and-error iterative approach taking into account all social, environmental and technical constrains (Mora et al, 2007). The intuitive spacing scheme results in sparse wind parks layouts and in inefficiently using of the wind energy potential of the site (Ammara et al, 2002). The production of industrial quantities of electricity requires getting as much as possible electrical power output, i.e.…”