Apparatus and method for using radar to evaluate wind flow fields for wind energy applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9575177-B2
Application number	US-201313952611-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2013
Priority date	Jul 27, 2012
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for obtaining data to determine one or more characteristics of a wind flow field using one or more radars. Data is collected from the one or more radars, and analyzed to determine the one or more characteristics of the wind flow field. The one or more radars are positioned to have a portion of the wind flow field within a scanning sector of the one or more radars.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for determining one or more characteristics of a complex wind flow field within or adjacent to a wind turbine or array of wind turbines using one or more radars, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the one or more radars positioned to have a portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines disposed within a scanning sector of the one or more radars;
collecting data from the one or more radars, wherein the data comprises at least a radial velocity and a spectrum width; and
determining the one or more characteristics of the portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines by analyzing the data using one or more processors, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a plurality of center points and at least one vertical profile of wind speeds for one or more turbine wake(s).

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise at least two characteristics which further comprise a mean and variable structure of the portion of the complex wind flow field, locating and tracking enhanced turbulence within the portion of the complex wind flow field, a length or width of the one or more turbine wake(s), a set of horizontal wind speed deficits within the portion of the complex wind flow field relative to a free-stream flow, a forecasted power output for one or more turbines within the portion of the complex wind flow field, recognition of a localized event of interest containing changes in wind speed and/or direction, a vertical profile of horizontal wind speeds and directions within the complex wind flow field, a shear across a turbine rotor sweep, a turbine wake deficit from inflow, a turbine wake orientation, a turbine wake evolution, a strength of high speed channels in between two or more turbine wakes, a turbine wake structure, transient wind gusts and lulls, or a combination thereof.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more radars comprise one or more Doppler radars.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more radars are mobile or fixed.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more radars have a magnetron transmitter, a klystron transmitter or a traveling wave tube transmitter.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more radars have a microwave frequency selected within the group of microwave frequency bands consisting essentially of W-band (75 to 110 GHz), V-band (50 to 75 GHz), Ka-band (26.5 to 40 GHz), K-band (18 to 26.5 GHz), Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz), X-band (8 to 12 GHz), C-band (4 to 8 GHz), and S-band (2 to 4 GHz).

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing one or more additional radars positioned to have the portion of the complex wind flow field or another portion of the complex wind flow field within an additional scanning sector for the additional radars.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of collecting the data from the one or more radars comprises the steps of:
collecting raw data from the one or more radars; and
processing the raw data to generate the data.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting the data based on a beam misalignment with a true wind vector.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data further comprises a vertical range-height indicator and a horizontal plan-position indicator.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data further comprises interpolated horizontal wind flows describing a wake of one or more turbines and a free-stream radial velocity field surrounding the wake.

12. A method for determining one or more characteristics of a complex wind flow field within or adjacent to a wind turbine or array of wind turbines using one or more radars, the method comprising the steps of:
providing data from the one or more radars positioned to scan a portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines, wherein the data comprises at least a radial velocity and a spectrum width; and
determining the one or more characteristics of the portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines by analyzing the data using one or more processors, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a plurality of center points and at least one vertical profile of wind speeds for one or more turbine wake(s).

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprise at least two characteristics which further comprise a mean and variable structure of the portion of the complex wind flow field, locating and tracking enhanced turbulence within the portion of the complex wind flow field, a length or width of the one or more turbine wake(s), a set of horizontal wind speed deficits within the portion of the complex wind flow field relative to a free-stream flow, a forecasted power output for one or more turbines within the portion of the complex wind flow field, recognition of a localized event of interest containing changes in wind speed and/or direction, a vertical profile of horizontal wind speeds and directions within the complex wind flow field, a shear across a turbine rotor sweep, a turbine wake deficit from inflow, a turbine wake orientation, a turbine wake evolution, a strength of high speed channels in between two or more turbine wakes, a turbine wake structure, transient wind gusts and lulls, or a combination thereof.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more radars are positioned to have the portion of the complex wind flow field disposed within a scanning sector of the one or more radars.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more radars comprise one or more Doppler radars.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more radars are mobile or fixed.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more radars have a magnetron transmitter, a klystron transmitter or a traveling wave tube transmitter.

18. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the one or more radars have a microwave frequency selected within the group of microwave frequency bands consisting essentially of W-band (75 to 110 GHz), V-band (50 to 75 GHz), Ka-band (26.5 to 40 GHz), K-band (18 to 26.5 GHz), Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz), X-band (8 to 12 GHz), C-band (4 to 8 GHz), and S-band (2 to 4 GHz).

19. The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising the step of providing one or more additional radars positioned to have the portion of the complex wind flow field or another portion of the complex wind flow field within an additional scanning sector for the additional radars.

20. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the step of collecting the data from the one or more radars comprise the steps of:
collecting raw data from the one or more radars; and
processing the raw data to generate the data.

21. The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising the step of adjusting the data based on a beam misalignment with a true wind vector.

22. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the data further comprises a vertical range-height indicator and a horizontal plan-position indicator.

23. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the data further comprises interpolated horizontal wind flows describing a w

Assignees

• Univ Texas Tech System

Inventors

• Schroeder John
• Hirth Brian
• Guynes Jerry

Classifications

• G01S13/87

  Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar · CPC title

• G01S13/589

  measuring the velocity vector · CPC title

• F03D17/00

  Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics (testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30) · CPC title

• G01S13/95 Primary

  for meteorological use · CPC title

• G01S13/951

  ground based · CPC title