Improving the Jensen and Larsen Wake Deficit Models

Abstract

The continued grow of the wind industry has resulted in an increase in turbine cluster density in wind farms. This has made the topic of wind turbine and wind farm wake aerodynamics more relevant than ever. Wind turbine wake models are used to predict the deficit and recovery of the wind velocities in the wake. The currently used wake models in the industry contain a relatively simple approach to model the near-wake of the turbine, assuming an initial hat or Gaussian deficit profile at a fixed location in the wake. This thesis presents an alternative near-wake model based on discrete, inviscid, perfectly circular vortex rings for use in conjuncture with existing far-wake models.