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A numerical study of tilt-based wake steering using a hybrid free-wake method

Publication ,  Journal Article
Su, K; Bliss, D
Published in: Wind Energy
February 1, 2020

This study investigates the potential of using tilt-based wake steering to alleviate wake shielding problems experienced by downwind turbines. Numerical simulations of turbine wakes have been conducted using a hybrid free-wake analysis combining vortex lattice method (VLM) and an innovative free-wake model called constant circulation contour method (CCCM). Simulation results indicate tilting a horizontal axis wind turbine's shaft upward causes its wake to ascend, carrying energy-depleted air upward and pumping more energetic replacement air into downstream turbines, thereby having the potential to recover downstream turbine power generation. Wake cross section vorticity and velocity distributions reveal that the wake upward transport is caused by the formation of near-wake streamwise vorticity components, and furthermore, the wake velocity deficit is weakened because of the skewed wake structure. Beyond the single turbine wake simulation, an inline two-turbine case is performed as an assessment of the wake steering influence on the two-turbine system and as an exploratory work of simulating turbine-wake interactions using the hybrid free-wake model. Individual and total turbine powers are calculated. A comparison between different tilting angles suggests turbine power enhancement may be achieved by tilting the upstream turbine and steering its wakes away from the downstream turbine.

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Published In

Wind Energy

DOI

EISSN

1099-1824

ISSN

1095-4244

Publication Date

February 1, 2020

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

258 / 273

Related Subject Headings

  • Energy
  • 4011 Environmental engineering
  • 4008 Electrical engineering
  • 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
 

Citation

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Su, K., & Bliss, D. (2020). A numerical study of tilt-based wake steering using a hybrid free-wake method. Wind Energy, 23(2), 258–273. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2426
Su, K., and D. Bliss. “A numerical study of tilt-based wake steering using a hybrid free-wake method.” Wind Energy 23, no. 2 (February 1, 2020): 258–73. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2426.
Su K, Bliss D. A numerical study of tilt-based wake steering using a hybrid free-wake method. Wind Energy. 2020 Feb 1;23(2):258–73.
Su, K., and D. Bliss. “A numerical study of tilt-based wake steering using a hybrid free-wake method.” Wind Energy, vol. 23, no. 2, Feb. 2020, pp. 258–73. Scopus, doi:10.1002/we.2426.
Su K, Bliss D. A numerical study of tilt-based wake steering using a hybrid free-wake method. Wind Energy. 2020 Feb 1;23(2):258–273.
Journal cover image

Published In

Wind Energy

DOI

EISSN

1099-1824

ISSN

1095-4244

Publication Date

February 1, 2020

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

258 / 273

Related Subject Headings

  • Energy
  • 4011 Environmental engineering
  • 4008 Electrical engineering
  • 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering