Validation of large-eddy simulation of scaled waked wind turbines in different yaw misalignment conditions

Abstract

This paper compares lifting-line large-eddy simulations (LES) of scaled wind turbines against experimental measurements obtained in a boundary layer wind tunnel. The final goal of this effort is to develop a verified digital copy of the experimental facility, in support of wind farm control research. Three scaled wind turbine models are arranged in different waked configurations and yaw misalignment conditions. In the experiments, the wind turbine response is measured in terms of various operational parameters, while the flow is measured with two scanning LiDARs. Simulation and experimental results are compared with respect to flow characteristics, turbine states and wake behavior. The analysis of the results shows a good match between simulations and experiments. Besides this important verification, the numerical simulations are also used to explain a wake interference phenomenon observed in the experiments, which causes a modification in the path of the wake of shaded turbines.