Characterization of wind at Cedar Rapids, Iowa for wind resource assessment

As wind energy continues to advance as a renewable energy resource, accurate power predictions are critical in determining the effectiveness of a wind turbine installation. Developing a more complete understanding of the on-site wind resource within the lowest layer of the atmosphere, known as the Atmospheric Boundary Layer, is critical to successful wind power projects. In this study, atmospheric measurements taken every minute over a year from different heights on a meteorological tower at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa were analyzed. The data was classified according to atmospheric thermal stability, determined by the bulk Richardson number, as well as upwind surface roughness. According to each thermal stability and roughness classification, log law velocity profile models for mean wind speeds at different heights were generated. In addition, to develop a better understanding of the size of turbulent eddies at the site, the length scales of the wind were found according to the same stability and roughness conditions.

Leo Narbonne, Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Pruitt Urbanczyk, Mechanical Engineering, Rice University

Project Mentors:

Dr. Wei Zhang, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University

Dr. Yuping Wu, Department of Mathematics, Cleveland State University

Dr. Corey Markfort, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Iowa