Wind Profiling and Site Assessment

• Vertical profiles of wind speed and turbulence characteristics
• Tower and Sodar based measurements for wind profiles
• Turbulence measurements to better understand flows at turbine height

Overview

The main focus of this research is wind assessment. Assessment has become an important issue within the wind energy community because of the large costs and efforts needed to develop a productive wind farm site. The combination of both tower and remotely sensed measurements such as from a SODAR (Sound Detection And Ranging) provides a stronger field validation of model forecasts. Field measurements are the most critical component of the assessment stage because it is the truth.

Tower and Sodar Siting

Sodars need to be collocated near the main measurement tower, however, there needs to be some distance to limit contamination of fixed echoes from the tower. This configuration allows a good comparison with the upper level wind data obtained from the sodar and the surface level winds from the tower.

Tower Configuration

The tower needs to be configured such that the cross booms extend far enough away from the tower lattice frame to limit flow disturbance. Power and datalogging devices should be placed in weather proof enclosures at the base of the tower. Data can be stored either onsite or transmitted via a wireless network, RF or cell link.