Wind Energy Application

With the fast growth of the wind-energy sector worldwide, the interaction between atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flow and wind turbines, and the cumulative effects of turbine wakes, have become important issues in both the wind energy and the atmospheric science communities. Accurate prediction of ABL flow and of its interactions with wind turbines is critical for optimizing the siting of wind turbines and the layout of wind farms. In particular, flow prediction can potentially provide the kind of high-resolution spatial and temporal information needed to maximize wind energy production and minimize fatigue loads in wind farms. Numerical simulations, specifically large-eddy simulations (LESs), can also provide valuable quantitative insight into the potential impacts of wind farms on local meteorology. These are associated with the significant role of wind turbines in slowing down the wind and enhancing vertical mixing of momentum, heat, moisture, and other scalars. However, the accuracy of LESs of ABL flow with wind turbines hinges on our ability to parameterize subgrid-scale turbulent fluxes as well as turbine-induced forces.

This study focuses on recent research efforts to develop and validate an LES framework for wind energy applications. Futher, we use this framework to simulate ABL flow through idealized wind farms and operational wind farms for better understanding wind turbine wakes.