Radar echo simulation of wind turbines array based on scattering center

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to propose a method for accurate radar echo simulation of wind turbines (WTs) array. It can solve the problem of passive interference from wind farms to neighboring radar stations. Design/methodology/approach First of all, the equivalent model of scattering centers of a single WT is obtained by using the spatial spectrum estimation method, and the accuracy of this model is verified by the scaled model experiment; then scattering centers model of WTs array was established by using the spatial coordinate transformation method. According to the position relationship between the model and the radar, and combined with the multipath scattering theory, the radar echo equation of WTs array was deduced. Finally, the simulation analysis is carried out with the four GoldWind 77/1500 WTs as an example and compared with the traditional methods. Findings This paper verifies the accuracy of the equivalent model of scattering centers through the WT scaled model experiment, and through simulation analysis, it is found that the result of this method is more consistent with the multipath scattering of radar echo between WTs array in practical engineering than the traditional method. Originality/value Based on the theory of high-frequency scattering, this paper introduces scattering centers into the solution of radar echo and considers the multipath scattering of radar echo, then a method for solving the radar echo of WTs array based on scattering centers is proposed.