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Location and organization apparently matters after all! Or
at least that is what Cristina Archer, Assistant Professor at the University of
Delaware has discovered with regard to wind turbine efficiency. Dr. Archer headed up a team of researchers
from UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment to conduct studies on the
effects of various wind turbine organizational placement patterns. Using a wind
farm near Sweden for the basis of their study, they compared existing tightly
paced, grid-like layouts to six alternate configurations. They tried multiple spacing
distances in various styles of rows: straight arrays, linear but equal offsets and
a staggered theatre style where any turbine in front does not obstruct the view
from any one behind.
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The team conducted computerized simulations taking into
account eddies, wind currents and swirls of choppy air emanating from the
downdraft of neighboring turbine blades.
Archer’s team learned that the most efficient arrangement
was a combination of two approaches. By maintaining a liberal amount of space
between turbines and staggering them decreased the energy losses caused by
eddies. By using this staggered approach Archer and her team was able to improve
the collective performance by 33 percent.
Understanding wind currents and optimizing turbine placement
based upon them is key to maximizing the wind energy’s potential. Archer and
her team tested seasonal differences of prevailing wind directions throughout
the year noting that wind currents change with each meteorological shift.
Professor Archer’s academic background is in both
meteorology and engineering, enabling her to best understand and apply weather
data and complex calculations to estimate the potential for wind as a power
source. The results of her study will be very valuable to the future of
offshore wind farm location and design.
Another study of Archer’s focused on the seasonality of wind
energy worldwide and maximizing its seasonal opportunities. Through this study
her team found that in most potential wind energy sites, capacity is greatest
from December to February. Her ongoing wind studies have given greater understanding
to the potential and environmental impact of wind power. Archer says it herself; “I’m hoping these will be tools for
giving a general overview of wind at the global scale.”
Read more at The
University of Delaware.
Image via The
University of Delaware.
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