Experimental investigation of wind turbine wake dynamics during yaw variation

Abstract

This work focuses on the analysis of the wake dynamics during yaw manoeuvres. Farm control is becoming always more crucial and voluntary misalignment is one valuable strategy employed to optimize the overall production. Indeed, the appropriate misalignment of a wind turbine can improve the rate of production and the lifetime of the downstream one, and if properly applied, could also improve the overall farm production. The main objective of this work is to analyze the wake deviation dynamics consequent to an imposed yaw manoeuvre strategy. The analysis is performed through wind tunnel experiments and the wake deviation is captured and measured using Particle Imaging Velocimetry. First, the yaw manoeuvre is reproduced in a homogeneous and isotropic turbulent flow and second, in a more realistic atmospheric boundary layer condition. Results show a different behaviour of the wake according to the imposed yaw manoeuvre.