Geometry-Based Models for Studying the Effects of Wind Farm Layout

Abstract

AbstractLayout studies are critical in designing large wind farms, since wake effects can lead to significant reductions in power generation. Optimizing wind farm layout using computational fluid dynamics is practically unfeasible today because of their enormous computational requirements. Simple statistical models, based on geometric quantities associated with the wind farm layout, are therefore attractive because they are less demanding computationally. Results of large-eddy simulations of the Lillgrund (Sweden) offshore wind farm are used here to calibrate such geometry-based models. Several geometric quantities (e.g., blockage ratio, defined as the fraction of the swept area of a wind turbine that is blocked by upstream turbines) and their linear combinations are found to correlate very well (correlation coefficient of ~0.95) with the power generated by the turbines. Linear models based on these geometric quantities are accurate at predicting the farm-averaged power and are therefore used here to study layout effects in large wind farms. The layout parameters that are considered include angle between rows and columns, angle between incoming wind and columns (orientation), turbine spacings, and staggering of alternate rows. Each can impact wind power production positively or negatively, and their interplay is complex. The orientation angle is the most critical parameter influencing wake losses, as small changes in it can cause sharp variations in power. In general, for a prevailing wind direction, the orientation angle should be small (7.5°–20°) but not zero; staggering and spacing are beneficial; and nonorthogonal layouts may outperform orthogonal ones. This study demonstrates the utility of simple, inexpensive, and reasonably accurate geometry-based models to identify general principles governing optimal wind farm layout.