See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/224256728

Study of wake effects for offshore wind farm planning

Conference Paper · October 2010

Source: IEEE Xplore

CITATIONS READS

28 7,786

3 authors:

N. Moskalenko Krzysztof Rudion

Friedrich Schiller University Jena Universität Stuttgart
16 PUBLICATIONS 93 CITATIONS 114 PUBLICATIONS 922 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Antje Orths
Energinet.dk
77 PUBLICATIONS 2,084 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

IEA Task 25 - Design and Operation of Power Systems with Large Amounts of wind power View project

Análise dos fatores que influenciam na disseminção do armazenamento de energia em grande escala no Sistema Elétrico Brasileiro View project

All content following this page was uploaded by N. Moskalenko on 12 January 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Study of Wake Effects for Offshore Wind Farm
Planning
Natalia Moskalenko Antje Orths
Krzysztof Rudion Energinet.dk, Denmark
Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany ano@energinet.dk
natalia.moskalenko@st.ovgu.de,
rudion@ieee.org

Abstract—The main task of a wind farm is to get as much energy flowing over the sea-surface than the land. Sometimes the
as possible from the minimal number of wind turbines and with a wind over a large water area is twice as strong as the wind at
minimal space between the turbines due to the economy of land the same time on the nearest coast. In order to use this
in onshore and connections costs in offshore. However, advantage there are excessive plans in the EU to utilize the
minimization of the distance between single wind turbines within offshore wind potentials and many new offshore wind farms
a wind farm causes an increase of the so called wake effect, which
are planned in the time horizon till 2020, the capacity of which
is introduced by the shadowing of some wind turbines by the
other units within the farm and as a consequence causes a may amount to 40 GW [1]. Europe has a perfect geographical
turbulent flow. This leads to the reduction of energy yield in the position for a good offshore wind energy potential, especially
shadowed units. For the offshore wind farms which consist of 100 in the North Sea, and there are already some offshore wind
and more wind turbines is this effect especially significant. farms with a large capacity in Denmark and the UK, such as
In this paper the aspects of wake effects will be discussed. In Horns Rev I with 160 MW and Horns Rev II with 209 MW of
the first step the wake phenomena will be characterized and the installed capacity [2], [3]. Moreover, some vendors have
analysis and comparison of the existing mathematical models for recently developed large wind turbines with a rated power of
wake effects will be performed. Then, the planning tasks for wind 5 MW for offshore wind farms in order to make the wind
farms with an incorporation of the wake model in order to
energy more highly acceptable and economic [4], [5].
maximize the energy yield, such as optimal farm configuration,
will be discussed. The modeling of an exemplary wind farm for Generally, in order to obtain higher energy production and
wake effect simulation will be described and some exemplary optimize the investment costs regarding installation and
simulations will be performed in order to show the influence of interconnection efforts as well as in order to make
wake effect on energy yield. maintenance more efficient many single wind turbines are
organized into groups – the so called wind farms. During the
Keywords- wind energy; offshore wind farm; energy yield; wake wind farm planning process an important task is to minimize
effect. the area utilized by the planned wind farm. However,
I. INTRODUCTION minimizing the area used for the wind farm for the specified
number of wind turbines leads to decreasing the distances
A lot of countries throughout the world are using their between individual wind turbines, which can influence the
experience and scientific potential in order to develop overall energy yield from the farm. This is caused by the so
renewable energy sources. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) on the called wake effect, which is evoked in a wind farm due to the
reduction of green-house gas emissions favors clean and mutual shadowing phenomena and causes a decrease of the
sustainable energy production. incoming wind speed to the wind turbines that are placed in
Wind energy is becoming one of the most common and the “wind shadow” of some other units. Therefore, assessment
preferred renewable energy sources. It is a very perspective of this effect and incorporation into the planning process of
method of energy generation. All around the world new wind the wind farm plays a crucial role in the first-phase evaluation
power supplies are being built, more powerful wind turbines of the expected energy yield. Especially from the economical
are being developed, and a large number of wind turbines are point of view, neglecting the wake effect can lead to an
being erected in wind farms for more energy production. In overestimation of the energy production.
Germany alone there were more than 21.000 installed wind In this paper modeling of the wake effect for offshore wind
turbines with an overall capacity of more than 25 GW [6] at farm planning will be discussed. The available models will be
the end of 2009, while in Europe the overall installed wind introduced and compared to each other. The influence of the
capacity exceeded 74 GW at that time point with more than wake effect on the energy yield will be shown on an
2 GW of offshore wind farms [7]. exemplary simulation using a defined test system that is based
Generally, wind is a phenomenon that is present on a real offshore wind farm.
everywhere. However, there are regions where wind potential
is especially high, as for example the seashore. As known, the
wind on the sea is stronger than on the land [12]. This is due to
the fact that the water creates less friction to the air masses

Modern Electric Power Systems 2010, Wroclaw, Poland MEPS'10 - paper 07.3
 II. WIND FARM PLANNING adjust the shadowing of inner wind turbines, to decrease the
Generally, wind farms can be directly planned in an wake and to increase the energy yield from the wind farm.
optimal way taking into account the defined number of wind Also it would be possible to find the optimal arrangement of
turbines as well as their rated power and then built up, wind turbines in the wind farm and to improve the financing
whereas additional wind turbines can be added later to enlarge cost reduction.
the farm, if necessary. Another possibility is a wind farm that This effect is especially significant for the offshore wind
originates from the proximity of different wind turbines that farms which consist of 100 or more wind turbines. The lower
were built up separately one after the other in some time span ambient turbulence offshore is responsible for the wind speed
without a super-ordinate planning process. In the first case the in the wake recovering to the initial value more slowly than an
big advantage lies in the possibility of increasing the onshore wind farm.
efficiency of power utilization by an appropriate planning Wind turbines extract energy from wind and reduce the
procedure. wind speed behind the rotor and swirl the air flow. If wind
The efficiency of wind power utilization depends on many turbines worked in the same air flow direction, the second
parameters, such as finite number of blades and due to this turbine would receive a reduced wind speed and would not
fact tip losses, non-zero aerodynamic resistance, positioning of optimally run because of the incoming wind turbulences
wind turbines near another wind turbine (or a wind farm caused by the first turbine. The spreading of the wake is also
structure) because of turbulence rotation behind the wind called wake effect and is one of the most important impacts of
turbine rotor. Therefore, during the wind farm planning neighboring wind turbines that influences the electrical energy
various aspects have to be taken into account, e.g.: production. The maximal power output of the wind farm
- The optimal layout of the wind farm for cannot be reached due to the described effects and should be
maximization of energy yield and minimization of considered for the design of the entire farm referring to the
the area utilization; distances between the wind turbines.
The air flow that comes from one wind turbine to the next
- Characteristics of the wind turbines to be erected in wind turbine is reduced and becomes turbulent. So the wind
the farm regarding their aerodynamic properties, e.g. turbine positioned behind the first wind turbine gets the
thrust coefficient that is also responsible for reduced and whirled air flow and, as a result, produces less
interaction between wind turbines; energy. The phenomenon of shadowing is called wake-effect
or array-effect. Such a factor is an extremely important
- Optimal integration into the environment in order to parameter, while it could significantly influence the total
provide minimal influence on the nature and energy yield, and it leads to the variable wind loads and
landscape; vibration induced fatigue on the rotors and even the short
circuit at the nearby power lines when they oscillate (swing) in
- Optimal integration into the electrical power system opposite directions.
(compliance with the Grid Code). The structure of wake rotation is presented in Figure 1. As
can be seen, the wake flow is an annular vortical motion of the
To support the first aspect consideration of the wake effect air flow that has a conic form. This vortex widens and abates
is necessary. For all types of wind farms the distance between with distance. Figure 2 (a) shows the principle of wake
the turbines have been carefully taken into consideration, spreading caused by the downstream of the first turbine. The
while the main task of a wind farm is to get as much energy as related exemplary power curve in Figure 2 (b) indicates the
possible from the minimal number of wind turbines and with a drop in power output induced through the displacement of the
minimal space between the turbines due to the economy of operating point.
land (and for providing the infrastructure requirements).
However, minimization of the distance between single wind
turbines within a wind farm causes an increase of the wake
effect, which is introduced by the shadowing of some wind
turbines by the other units in the wind farm and as a
consequence causes a turbulent flow. This leads to the
reduction of energy yield in the shadowed units.
III. WAKE EFFECT
A. General Characteristics
The wind turbines are becoming larger and larger. That is
why it is very important to understand the aerodynamic nature
and the properties of wake-effects, in order to calculate the
optimal wind farm structure with new design models of wind
turbines for providing the maximal energy yield. The correct
Figure 1. Model of wake rotation [9].
study of the wake effect gives the possibility to control and
 The power produced by the wind turbine can be estimated
by Eq. (1):
PWT = 0,5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ A ⋅ VWind
3
⋅ cp (1)
Thus, the small reduction of wind speed results in not
proportionally high reduction of wind power (Figure 2).
The turbulence intensity can be described in relation to the
distance between the neighboring wind turbines and is
additionally dependent on the wind speed. Thus, the space has
to be fixed generously to keep the turbulence impact
negligible. Furthermore, sufficient spacing also increases the
lifetime and energy output of the WT.
Figure 3. HAWT wake flow structure [13].
The wake’s structure consists of several zones, such as:
near wake, intermediate and far wake as presented in Figure 3. The intermediate wake has such properties as:
The length of each of these zones depends on the rotor - The length is about 2-3 rotor diameters and ends
diameter and has its own properties that are determined by the when the mixing layer reaches the axial line and
values of pressure p and wind speed V. changes the centreline velocity;
The near wake zone is characterized by the following - The pressure is fixed on the whole interval and equals
properties [9]: to pa;
- The length is about 2 rotor diameters; - The centerline velocity has a fixed value as turbulent
- The pressure in the front of the turbine increases, as mixing increases at the wake outer boundary layer.
the vortex flow expands to the blade’s diameter, and The far wake has the following features:
then decreases suddenly at the other side of the - The length is more than 5 rotor diameters;
turbine and after that constantly increases in the area
- The pressure is constant and is equal to pa;
of near wake to the free-stream value, pa;
- Due to the turbulent mixing the centerline velocity
- The velocity inside of the vortex flow decreases as it starts to steadily increase to the free stream value, Va.
comes to the turbine and stays constant at the other According to the properties of every zone the optimal distance
between the wind turbines could be chosen in order to provide
side of turbine, after that it reduces further in the near
a minimal influence of one turbine on another.
wake as the pressure rises to the value pa;
Also for optimal planning of a wind farm the following
- The radius of near wake increases up to some certain parameters should be taken into account:
value when the pressure reaches pa and the velocity - Annual wind speed for predicting the expected
decreases, which corresponds to the mass and energy yield as well as for wind turbine selection.
momentum conservation law. - Frequency of annual wind direction for wind farm
structure design (the wind rose).
In Figure 4 the global wake effect in the wind farm is shown.
Such an influence of array effect occurs when the wind blows
more frequently in direction V1wind and the distance between
wind turbines is A. With such layout a large shadowing is
observed, so this wind farm structure is not effective if the
primary wind direction corresponds to V1wind. Such wind farm
construction could be applied when the most frequent wind
direction corresponds to V2wind because the distance between
two neighboring wind turbines (B) is significantly larger than
in the first case.
B. Modelling of Wake Effect
Figure 2. Principle of wake effect (a) and related power curve of wind
turbines (b).
There are many different softwares to analyze the wake effect
that are based on the different models from the rather simple
wake models (for example WAsP, WindPRO, WindFarm) to
the full CFD model (for example, ANSYS).
 Figure 4. Wake effect in wind farm depending on wind direction [14].

These programs are based on the different mathematical Figure 6. The structure of Jensen’s wake model [8].
models for wake effect calculations and include following
The Larsen’s wake model is based on the Prandtl’s
models:
turbulent boundary layer equations for definition of the wake
• Lissaman’s model,
behind the wind turbine. The wake flow is considered as
• Larsen’s model, incompressible, stationary and axis-symmetric. This model is
• Jensen’s model, significantly sensitive to the turbulence intensity changes [8].
• Ainslie’s model.
When such models are applied for the wind farm The Jensen’s wake model is simpler and requires a short
configuration, the calculation has two steps: in the first – the time for calculations. In this model the wake flow is controlled
calculation of wake intensity for one wind turbine (so called, by the entrainment constant k, the values of which are defined
single wake) and then the superposition of several single from the simulation results and measurements [25], [26], [27].
wakes of each wind turbine inside the wind farm (multiple The wake flow is supposed to be linear and the near-wake
wake). region behind the rotor is neglected.
The first useful model was discovered by Lissaman in 1977 The wind speed profile for total wake is assumed to be a
by the development of blade element theory and momentum rectangular area. The structure of Jensen’s wake model is
theory. This model (Figure 5) is based on the empirical presented in Figure 6. From this picture it is possible to
considerations of the fluid mechanics and the partitioning of
calculate the wake radius Rw(x) at any distance x with Eq. (2):
the wake area into small regions. The corresponding wake
parameters are defined for each region. The disadvantage of
this model is the wake definition on the border between the Rw ( x ) = kx + R (2)
regions [20], [21], [22].
The Ainslie’s model uses the axial symmetric Reynold’s The wind speed in the wake at any distance x can be
equations and the numerical solution of the Navier Stokes calculated with Eq. (3):
equations for the turbulent boundary layer for determination of
  R 2
( )
the wake development, [23], [24]. It is a more accurate method
of wake determination but also more complicated because of v w (x) = v 0 1 −   1 − 1 − cT (3)
the numeric solution. Such a model is used in commercial   kx + R  
software GH WindFarmer [28].
Where:
v0 – is the incoming wind speed [m/s],
v2 – is the wind speed behind the rotor [m/s],
Rw(x) – is the wake radius at distance x behind the rotor
plane [m],
R– is the radius of the wind turbine rotor [m],
k– is the entrainment constant [-], k = tan(α ),
cT – is the thrust coefficient [-], see Figure 7,
vw(x) – is the wind speed in the wake at any distance x.

The thrust coefficient depends on the wind speed and the

type of wind turbine. The entrainment constant k was
experimentally defined and for offshore systems equals k =
Figure 5. The structure of Lissaman’s wake model [9]. 0.04, and for onshore k = 0.075 [8].
 IV. TEST SYSTEM AND EXEMPLARY CALCULATION
To best understand the program operational behavior
exemplary wind farm was considered. The structure of this
wind farm was based on the Horns Rev I off-shore wind farm
that is connected to the Danish power system, as shown in
Figure 9. It consists of 80 wind turbines, type Vestas V80 with
3 blades, which can generate the maximal power of about
2 MW. The rotor diameter and height are equal to 80 m.
For calculation the measured data from the measuring mast
that is situated 2 km northwest of the first WT were used. The
wake effect was simulated with the LENA-Tool and the results
about wind speed reduction were received, such as the wind
Figure 7. Thrust coefficient cT for different wind turbines roses for each wind turbine (see Figure 10) and the general
(created based on [10], [11]). wind farm shadowing pattern (see Figure 11).
With lower constant k the wake area is narrower and Meteorologischer 0°
Messmast 345° 15°
stronger in a given downstream distance [29]. The Jensen 330°
6°
30°

model is applied in many commercial software programs for 315°

5500
[m]

wind farm calculations, such as WAsP, WindPRO, etc [16], 300° 5000 1 9 17 25 33 41 49 57 65 73
[17]. 285° 4500
2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 66 74
The Jensen’s model of wake effect is also used in the 270°
4000
3 11 19 27 35 43 51 59 67 75
LENA Tool [30]. The calculation algorithm of wake effect 3500

with the help of this program is as follows (see Figure 8): 255° 4 12 20 28 36 44 52 60 68 76
3000

•
5 13 21 29 37 45 53 61 69 77
240°
Input data definition: 2500

6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 70 78
o wind profile: wind speed vm and wind direction φm for 2000

some period (one month or half year for more exact N 1500
7 15 23 31 39 47 55 63 71 79

calculation), W O 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80
1000

S
o coordinates xn, yn of each wind turbine (wind farm 500
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
[m]

structure),
Figure 9. The structure of wind farm [30].
o type of wind turbine: height hn and rotor radius Rn for
each WT, WT1: Vmin=5,051; WT9: Vmin=5,051m/s, WT73: Vmin=5,051m/s,
Vmax=7m/s Vmax=7,0m/s Vmax=7,0m/s
8 8
… 8

o thrust coefficient cT, 6 6 6

4 4
4

o entrainment constant k. 2 2 2

• As a result the wind speeds and the pictures of wind

roses for each wind turbine are calculated.
• The next step is the verification of calculated wind WT2: Vmin=5,053m/s, WT10: Vmin=5,053m/s, WT74: Vmin=5,053m/s,
speeds with a measured data and correction with the Vmax=7,0m/s Vmax=7,0m/s Vmax=7,0m/s
correction-coefficients (which are presented in the form 6
8 8

6
… 6
8

of coherency matrix and are specified for all available 4 4 4

2
(for the wind farm place) wind speed values and wind 2 2

directions for every WT).

…
WT8: Vmin=5,051m/s, WT16: Vmin=5,051m/s, WT80: Vmin=5,051m/s,
Vmax=7,0m/s Vmax=7,0m/s Vmax=7,0m/s
8 8 8

6 6 … 6

4 4 4

2 2 2

Figure 10. The results of wake-effect calculation in wind farm.

Figure 8. The algorithm of calculation for the corrected wind speeds.
 TABLE I. DIFFERENCE IN ENERGY YIELD WITH AND WITHOUT WAKE
EFFECT CONSIDERATION

Parameters
Type of Energy %
Full load
calculation yield Profit [k€]a difference
hour [h]
[MWh]
With wake 52276,7 327 4704,9
effect
12%
Without wake 59525,6 372 5357,3
effect
°
20
-2

a. Assumption: wind energy price is equal to 9 Ct/kWh [31]

0°
21

In the first variant the energy yield of the wind farm

Figure 11. Wind farm shadowing pattern. without influence of wake is obtained. In this case the energy
production for one turbine is calculated for one single turbine
The structure of wind farm shadowing pattern shows the and then is multiplied by the number of wind farm units. In the
resulting wind speeds for each wind turbine for the incoming second case, the wake effect is taken into account. So the total
wind profile corresponding to wind speed Vwind = 6,341 m/s energy yield is calculated as the sum of energy yields for each
and wind direction φwind = 217°. It is easy to see that the last turbine. The calculation results are presented in TABLE I. It
wind turbines (according to the wind direction) have lower can be noticed that the reduction of the energy yield due to the
input wind speed than the front wind turbines and are marked wake effect is significant and equals to 12%.
with light colours in the Figure 11. In order to see the influence
of wake effect on the energy production of the wind farm, it is V. CONCLUSSION
better to calculate the energy yield for the wind farm with and
In this paper the planning of wind farms was discussed
without shadowing. To calculate the energy yield during the
regarding the mutual interaction between the wind turbines
month the power curve of the wind turbine Vestas V80
that are specified by the wake effect. It was shown that the
2.0 MW and the wind profile curve for this period are used as
wake effect plays a significant role during the assessment of
input data (Figure 12 (a) and (b), respectively).
the energy yield of a wind farm and the forecasted production.
Therefore, if this phenomenon would be considered already
during the planning phase of the wind farm an optimal
structure of the wind farm for the considered location can be
gathered on the one hand, and on the other hand, a more
realistic estimation of the energy yield can be performed.
Apart from the planning tasks that have a more static
character, the consideration of wake effect also plays a
significant role during the operation of the wind farms. Thus,
an interesting issue regards the optimization of the overall
energy yield from the farm by adapting the yaw angle of
individual wind turbines within the farm as well as by
optimizing the pitch angle settings in the individual wind
turbines. This will be the subject of further investigations.
(a)
REFERENCES
[1] www.ewea.org.
[2] www.dongenergy.com/Hornsrev2/EN/Pages/index.aspx.
[3] www.hornsrev.dk/.
[4] http://www.multibrid.com/index.php?id=5.
[5] http://www.repower.de/index.php?id=237index_flash_uk.htm.
[6] DEWI Magazin, No. 36, February 2010. www.dewi.de.
[7] Wind in power – 2009 European Statistics, February 2010 EAWE,
www.eawe.org.
[8] K. Rudion: „Aggregated Modelling of Wind Farms”; Otto-von-
Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; Magdeburg 2008.
[9] J. F. Manwell, J. G. McGowan, and A. L. Rogers, Wind Energy
Explained, Theory, Design, and Application. West Sussex: John Wiley
& Sons,LTD, 2002.
[10] D. R. VanLuvanee: Investigation of Observed and Modeled Wake
(b) Effects at Horns Rev using WindPRO. Master Thesis at the Technical
Figure 12. Input data for energy yield calculation: Assumed power curve (a) University of Denmark, 25 August 2006. Available at
and wind profile during the considered month (b). www.fm.mek.dtu.dk/English/Publications/Mastertheses.aspx.
[11] www.wasp.dk/Download/PowerCurves.html.
[12] www.amariner.net/cblog/index.php?/archives/17-unknown.html.
[13] M. J. Werl.: A New Analytical Model for Wind Turbine Wakes,
FloDesign Inc. Wilbraham, MA 01095, Wilbraham USA, 1 June, 2008.
Available at www.flodesign.org/pdf/fdwt200801.pdf.
[14] http://cires.colorado.edu.
[15] www.resoft.co.uk.
[16] http://www.wasp.dk.
[17] http://www.emd.dk/WindPRO/Frontpage.
[18] http://www.presse.uni-oldenburg.de/24813.html.
[19] E. Hau: „Windkraftanlagen – Grundlagen, Technik, Einsatz,
Wirtschaftlich-keit”; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Berlin 2008.
[20] P. Lissaman: „Energy Effectiveness of Arrays of Wind Energy
Conversion Systems”; Technical Report AV FR 7058, Aerovironment
Inc.; Pasadena, California 1977.
[21] P. Lissaman, G. Gyatt und A. Zalay: „Numeric – Modelling Sensitivity
Analysis of the Performance of Wind – Turbine Arrays“; Technical
Report UC-60, Aerovironment Inc.; Pasadena, California 1982.
[22] P. Lissaman: „Energy Effectiveness of Arbitrary, Array of Wind
Turbines”; AIAA paper 79-0114; 1979.
[23] J. Ainslie: „Calculating the Flow Field in the Wake of Wind Turbines”;
Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 27 (213-
224); 1988.
[24] J. Ainslie: „Development of an Eddy Viscosity Model for Wind Turbine
Wakes”; Proceedings of the 7th BWEA Wind Energy Conference;
Oxford 1985.
[25] N. O. Jensen: „A Note on Wind Generator Interaktion”; Technical
Raport RISO-M-2411; Denmark November 1983.
[26] A. Lebioda: „Windmodell für die Berechnung der Windverteilung in
einem Windfarm”; Internal Report at Otto-von-Guericke-Universität
Magdeburg; Juni 2004; not published.
[27] H. G. Beyer, B. Lange und H. P. Waldl: „Modelling Tolls for Wind
Farm Upgrading“; Proceedings of the DEWEK 96 Conference;
Wilhelmshaven, Deutschland 23. – 24. October 1996.
[28] www.gl-garradhassan.com.
[29] J. Badger: “Estimating annual wind farm energy production”; Risø
National Laboratory, Wind Energy Course, Phuket, 11. -15. September
2006. Available at www.stweb.ait.ac.th/~wind/seminar/All_Training
%20Material_pdf/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20Mod_2_5_
Estimating_ annual_farm_production.pdf.
[30] K. Rudion, Z. A. Styczynski, A. Orths und O. Ruhle: „MaWind – Tool
for the Aggregation of Wind Farms Models“; Power and Energy Society
General Meeting - Conversion and Delivery of Electrical Energy in the
21st Century, 2008 IEEE; 20-24 July 2008.
[31] "Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG) 2009", available at:
www.erneuerbare-energien.de.

View publication stats