Spatial characterization of the turbulent structure of a model wind turbine: high speed PIV measurements

ORAL

Abstract

Wind turbine wakes are complex flow structures that are modulated by the wind turbines and the characteristics of the approach flow, among others. Determining and quantifying the dominating processes that modulate their behavior is essential to improve wind farm design. High speed Particle Image Velocimetry was used to characterize the temporal and spatial features of a model wind turbine wake in their axis of symmetry in the near and far wake field. The model turbine was placed in a boundary layer flow developed in a wind tunnel under neutrally stratified conditions. The high speed measurements allowed us to determine the evolution of a range of coherent structures and their interactions with the surrounding flow. Multi-correlations and spectra as well as the spatial distribution of turbulence quantities provide relevant information on the key turbulent mechanisms that modulate a turbine wake and regulate turbulent transport.

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Authors

  • Jian Sheng

    Texas Tech Univ., Texas Technical University, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech U.

  • Leonardo Chamorro

    U. of Minnesota, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, Dep. Civil Engineering, UMN, University of Minnesota, U. of Minneasota

  • Seung-Jae Lee

    University of Minnesota, U. of Minneasota, Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

  • Roger Arndt

    U. of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, U. of Minneasota, Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory - University of Minnesota

  • Fotis Sotiropoulos

    U. of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, U. of Minneasota, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, 2 Third Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2 Third Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA, Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota