Large-eddy simulations of atmospheric boundary layers under various stability and surface roughness conditions are performed to investigate the turbulence impact on wind turbines. In particular, the aeroelastic responses of the turbines are studied to characterize the fatigue loading of the turbulence present in the boundary layer and in the wake of the turbines. Two utility-scale 5 MW turbines that are separated by seven rotor diameters are placed in a 3 km by 3 km by 1 km domain. They are subjected to atmospheric turbulent boundary layer flow and data are collected on the structural response of the turbine components. The surface roughness was found to increase the fatigue loads while the atmospheric instability had a small influence. Furthermore, the downstream turbines yielded higher fatigue loads indicating that the turbulent wakes generated from the upstream turbines have significant impact.
A Numerical Study of Atmospheric and Wake Turbulence Impacts on Wind Turbine Fatigue Loadings
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
15013 Denver West Parkway, MS 3811,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
15013 Denver West Parkway, MS 3811,
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Solar Energy Engineering. Manuscript received February 10, 2012; final manuscript received October 19, 2012; published online February 8, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Christian Masson.
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Lee, S., Churchfield, M. J., Moriarty, P. J., Jonkman, J., and Michalakes, J. (February 8, 2013). "A Numerical Study of Atmospheric and Wake Turbulence Impacts on Wind Turbine Fatigue Loadings." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. August 2013; 135(3): 031001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023319
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