On the Evolution of the Integral Time Scale within Wind Farms

A wind-tunnel investigation was carried out to characterize the spatial distribution of the integral time scale (T) within, and in the vicinity of, two model wind farms. The turbine arrays were placed over a rough wall and operated under high turbulence. The two layouts consisted of aligned units distinguished only by the streamwise spacing (x) between the devices, set at five and ten rotor diameters d T (or S x = x T / d T = 5 and 10). They shared the same spanwise spacing between turbines of 2.5 d T ; this resulted in arrays of 8 x 3 and 5 x 3 horizontal-axis turbines. Hotwire anemometry was used to characterize the instantaneous velocity at various vertical and transverse locations along the central column of the wind farms. Results show that above the top tip. This quantity appeared to reach adjusted values starting the fifth row of turbines in the S x = 5 wind farm, and earlier in the S x = 10 counterpart. Within the adjusted zone, the distribution of T u at hub height exhibited a negligible growth in the S x = 5 case; whereas it underwent a mild growth in the S x = 10 wind farm. In addition, the flow impinging the inner turbines exhibited T u / T i n c u , where T i n c u is the integral time scale of the overall incoming flow. Specifically, T u T i n c u at z = z h u b , where < 1 within standard layouts of wind farms, in particular approximate to 0.5 and 0.7 for S x =5 and 10.