Mass Consistent, Analytical Near Wake Models for Wind Turbines

A new three-dimensional, analytical wake model is presented which includes improved wake description near the rotor plane when compared to existing models. Wake structures, including the momentum deficit, hub jet, wake rotation, and flow acceleration around the rotor, are economically described with Ricker wavelets and Gaussian functions. These physics are included through the addition of free parameters, balancing the total degrees of freedom with model fidelity. Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) are used as reference data to assemble the model. Implementation into the FLOw Redirection and Induction in Steady State (FLORIS) wake modeling framework provides opportunity the perform model validation within a wind farm setting. Analytical modeling of each component of flow allows for mass conservation to be assessed.