2016 7th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC)

Experimental feasibility study of a wind farm

in a wind tunnel
Karima. GHAZOUANI a, Safa. SKOURIa

Fethi ALOUIa, Aman Allah GUIZANIa

The Research and Technology Center of Energy, the

Thermal Processes Laboratory, HammamLif, B.P. 95, 2050
Tunis, Tunisia (CRTEn),
Corresponding Author: karimaghazouani63@yahoo.com
skouri_safa@yahoo.fr

The Research and Technology Center of Energy, the

Thermal Processes Laboratory, HammamLif, B.P. 95, 2050
Tunis, Tunisia (CRTEn),
Corresponding Author: aloui_fethi@yahoo.fr
amenallah.guizani@crten.rnrt.tn

Abstract The exploitation of renewable energies becoming

increasingly prevalent in our daily lives such as wind energy.
The aim of this work is to characterize the wake behind a
porous disc that was built and tested in Research and
Technology Center of Energy in Tunisia (CRTEn), in order to
simulate the wake downstream of the turbine.
The technique of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used to
concentrate on the development of wake behind the disc, it
measures the instantaneous velocities. The study will
concentrate on wake regions behind the porous disc and the
model for evaluating the performance of a wind farm.

power relation as function of wind turbines number and type

are used as optimization criteria.
G.Tescione et al. [5] have analyzed the near wake flow of a
vertical axis wind turbine by stereoscopic particle image
velocimetry. The development of the near wake of a vertical
axis wind turbine is investigated by stereoscopic particle
image velocimetry. The experiments are conducted in an
open-jet wind tunnel on an H-shaped rotor, operated at a tip
speed ratio of 4.5.
B.Subramanian et al. [6] presented the experimental analysis
of wakes in a utility scale wind farm. The measurements of the
near (less than three rotor diameter) and far wakes (unto
eleven rotor diameter) in a utility scale wind farm are
described.
A-J. Buchner et al. [7] have studied the dynamic stall in
vertical axis wind turbines: Comparing experiments and
computations. Dynamic stall is often found in unsteady
aerodynamic flows where the angle of attack can vary
over a large range.
In Tunisia, the first wind plant built in 2000 in Sidi Daoud,
this wind project realised in three phases. In fact, in 2000 the
installed capacity is 10.56 MW, 8.72 MW in 2004 and 34.32
MW installed in 2009. Its installed total capacity is 53.6 MW.
At the end of 2015, the international association of wind
energy (WWEA) provides a total capacity of 600,000 MW
and over 1,500 000 MW by 2020.
This work is organized as follows. In Section 2, experimental
setup was described. In Section 3, the experimental results
were reported. The main remarks of this work are reported in
the conclusion.

Keywords Wind Turbine, Wake, Model, Wind Farm.

I.

INTRODUCTION

Some basic notions of a wind are necessary to understand

wind energy. Great efforts were made during the two decades
1947-1966, in order to know the wind, in the slice 0 to 100 m
above the sol.
In France, the development is due to Electricity of France,
under the impetus of Director of Studies and Research, Pierre
AILLERET [1].
In 1988, J.F.Ainslie [2] presented the characteristics of wind
turbine wake. A numerical model is described which can
calculate the flow field in the wake of wind turbines.
In 1999, the study of near-wake behaviour of wind turbines
carried out by M.Magnusson [3]. He showed that the flow
studies upstream and downstream are very important. In this
study the flow generated by a wind turbine has been
calculated.
Ivan Mustakerov and Daniela Borissova, [4] have studied the
wind turbines type and number choice using combinatorial
optimization. The wind park investment costs and the total

II.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

Our experimental setup is a porous disc of porosity equal to

55% designed and constructed in (CRTEn). This last is a scale

2016 7th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC)

model of a wind turbine Enercon E 71 type and its nominal

power is 2000 KW. The height of the mat varied between 64
and 113m and the diameter of the rotor is equal to 71m. In our
case, the turbine is modelized to scale 1/710(Fig1).

Fig.3: Evolution of the velocity profiles at various distances

downstream of the disc.

Fig.1: Schema of porous disc.

Table.1: Main information of the experimental data of the

disc.

In this experience, the technique of Particle Image

Velocimetry (PIV) was used in order to study the development
of wake behind the porous disc.
The principle of operation of PIV is: a laser light is created by
a laser coupled with optical elements. The seeding particles
are produced by a smoke generator continued on combustion
of the Euro Smoke. The diffused light by the tracers is
registered by a Flow Sense camera (1600*1200 piscels).
III.

3.84

6.22

5.95

6.51

induction factor

0.189

0.202

0.174

0.61

0.64

0.57

0.62

0.6

0.65

0.62

0.62

0.62

1.14

1.13

1.15

The wake diameter

A. Development of wake
The needing of the material in the laboratory, its difficult to
explore the velocity field behind the disc for one test. Hence,
its necessary to divide the velocity field in two parts(Fig.2).

From Fig.4 and Table.1, we can visualize the evolution of the

velocity and the diameter of wake at various distances
downstream of the disc. We note that experimental values are
approaching of values determined by the proposed model. As
a result, we can say that the development of wake is a function
of the distance downstream of the plane of rotation.

Fig.2: Instantaneous field of the velocity.

Based on Figure 3 deducted from Figure 2, we can determine
velocity profiles at various distances downstream of the disc,
0

3.2

The velocity at infinity of

turbine
The adimensionne
velocity of wake

The study will be devoted to the development of wake

downstream of porous disc, because the exact representation
of wake is the key for accurate predictions of the
aerodynamics of rotors and their performance.

4.17

Thrust coefficient

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

knowing the velocity of the free flow is

Distance downstream of
the disc
Minimum velocity

10m / s .

2016 7th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC)

Fig.4: The evolution of the velocity and diameter of wake at

various distances.

B. Study of wake regions behind the disc

- Region of near wake
Mc Cormick and Barnes W. Jr. [8] determined the
adimensionne velocity of wake based on the law of Biot
Savart, defined by the following correlation:

1
(1)
2X
U 0,3 1

U 0, x
1

2
2 2

4
X

With

Fig.6: Variation of the wake diameter as a function of X for

different values of thrust coefficient.

is the velocity at infinity of turbine, X is the

0,3

adimensional distance given by X=(x/D) and D is the diameter

of turbine.
The wake diameter determined by the following expression:

D 1U 0,3

D 2
U 0, x

- Region of far wake

In this region, the wake is totally developed. It is useful to pay
attention to the modeling of the far wake region. Swain [9],
done in collaboration with Prandtl [10], allows to characterize
this wake zone. It is characterized by the viscous growth rate

1
2

(2)

of wake,

The velocity at infinity of turbine

0,3

1 U 0,3

1
2
1 U 0,3 1 U 0,3
2

(3)

, and the viscous induced velocity,

CT .X

1
3

The viscous induced velocity,

Fig.5 and Fig.6 presented the variation of the adimensionne

velocity of the flow and the diameter of wake as a function of
X. Upstream of the wind plant with a horizontal axis, it is
observed that the velocity and the diameter of wake can attain
their asymptotic levels in 1 to 2 of diameters whatever the
level of thrust, essentially for a thrust coefficient

. The

solution of Prandtl / Swain contains an empirical constant, K,

applicable to all axisymmetric wakes that must be determined
from experiments.
The general expression of the viscous growth rate is given by:

can be determined

from the thrust coefficient or power coefficient given

respectively by the following expressions.

CT

U
2K
V

8
.
9

(4)

, is defined by:

2
3

(5)

From the Figs.7 and 8 which show the comparative study of

viscous growth rate and velocity deficit of porous disc with
other works. Note that the result found with the porous disc is
approaching to the results of Horn Rev, Vestas 80, Vindeby.

However downstream, the axial velocity and the diameter take

longer time to attain their asymptotic levels.

Fig.5: Variation of the flow velocity as a function of X for

Fig.7: Comparative study of viscous growth rate of porous

disc with other works.

different values of thrust coefficient.

2016 7th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC)

When placing turbines too close, we see that there is reduction

in production of wind turbines.
So, it is well known that the global performance of the park is
strongly linked to the type of arrangement of wind turbines on
the site.
IV.

The objectives of this work are the study of the flow through a
porous disc and the evaluation of the profitability of wind
farms.
In fact, the technique PIV was used to evaluate the velocity in
the wake zone of the porous disc. The treatment of images
obtained from this technique allowed to represent the flow and
to show the three regions of wake downstream of the porous
disc. A region of near wake which is essential to set the initial
conditions, also the region of intermediate wake whose the
flow is complex and there are no expression of the velocity
because of his axisymmetric character and finished diameter.
The estimation of the length of the intermediate wake present
the starting point of the far wake which is based on analysis of
Prandtl and Swain. Finally, the study is devoted to the
presentation of the appropriate model for the performance
evaluation of a wind farm.

Fig.8: Comparative study of velocity deficit of porous disc

with other works.

C. Model for performance evaluation of a wind farm.

The preceding equations are used to determine the
characteristics of wake produced by more than a wind turbine.
The power of the first and second wind turbine are determined
respectively by the following expressions:

P
1
A
2 U
P
1
A
2 U
1

1
1 1
C T 1
2 C T1

(6)

1
1 1
C T 2
2 CT2

(7)

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

0,0

[1]

AILLERET (p.). - L'nergie olienne: sa valeur et la prospection des

sites. Revue Gnrale de l'Electricit, tome LV, n 3, mars 1946, pp.
103-108.
[2] Ainslie, J.F., Calculating the Flow field in the wake of wind
turbines, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics,
Vol.27, pp 213-224, 1988.
[3] M.Magnusson, Near-Wake behaviour of wind turbines, Journal of
Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol.80, pp 147-167,
1999.
[4] Ivan Mustakerov, Daniela Borissova, Wind turbines type and number
choice using combinatorial optimization, Renewable Energy,
Vol.35,pp 1887-1894, 2010.
[5] G.Tescione, D.Ragni, C.He, C.J.Simao.Ferreira, G.J.W.VanBussel,
Near wake flow analysis of a vertical axis wind turbine by stereoscopic
particle image velocimetry, Renewable Energy, Vol.70, pp 47-61,
2014.
[6] B.Subramanian, N.Chokani, R.S.Abhari, Experimental analysis of
wakes in a utility scale wind farm, Journal of Wind Engineering and
Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol.138, pp 61-68, 2015.
[7] A-J. Buchner, M.W.Lohry, L.Martinelli, J.Soria,A.J.Smits, Dynamic
stall in vertical axis wind turbines: comparing experiments and
computations, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial
Aerodynamics, Vol.146, pp 163-171, 2015.
[8] Mc Cormick, Barnes W. Jr., AERODYNAMICS OF V/STOL FLIGHT,
DoverPublications Minneola NY, 1999.
[9] Swain,L.M., On the Turbulent Wake Behind a Body of
RevolutionProceedings ofthe Royal Society of London. Series A, Vol.
125, No.799, pp 647-659, November 1, 1929.
[10] Prandtl, L., The mechanics of viscous flows, appearing in the
Proceedings of the 2ndInternational Conference of Applied Mechanics, p
62, Zurich, Switzerland, 1926 and in Aerodynamic Theory p 166 by W.
F. Durand, , 1935.
[11] Rathmann, O., Barthelmie, R.J. and Frandsen, S., Turbine wake Model
for Wind Resource Software, presented at EWEC Wind Energy
Conference Conf, 2006

0,2

Note that the power ratio depends on thrusts coefficients of

two wind turbines. In fact, the thrust coefficient of the first
wind turbine,

T1

, is known. But

T2

of the second

turbine must be determined from the operating characteristics

of the machine. In order to have similar operating conditions
in wind farm, we assume that the thrust coefficients are
approximately equal.

Fig.9: Variation of the power ratio as a function of L for

different values of

Fig.9 shows the variation of power ratio as a function of the

longitudinal spacing for different values of thrust coefficient.

2016 7th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC)

[12] Mechali, M., Jensen, L., Barthelmie, R., Frandsen, S., and Rethore, P.E.,
Wake effects at Horns Rev and their influence on energy production,
presented at European Wind Energy Conference, Athens Greece,
October 2006
[13] Barthelmie, R.J., Folkerts, L., Ormel, F.T., Sanderhoff, P., Eechen, P.J.,
Stobbe, O. and Nielsen, N.M., Offshore Wind Turbine Wakes
Measured by Sodar, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology,
Vol. 20, pp 466-477, 2003.
[14] El Kasmi, A. and Masson, C., An extended k- model for turbulent
flow through horizontal-axis wind turbines Journal of Wind
Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol. 96, pp 103-102, 2008.