Wake Effects from Wind

Turbines

Brian Wareing
Brian Wareing.Tech Ltd
Chester, UK
Secretary WG28 ‘Meteorology for overhead lines’
Brian Wareing.tech Wind power
n Over 70GW installed capacity of wind
power world-wide
n Europe is by far the leading player with
48GW installed and further developments
going in at 14GW/yr.
n Major players in Europe are Germany,
Spain, Denmark and the UK
n As with much new technology, the rate of
introduction can far exceed the
recognition of potential problems and the
development of standards to deal with the
problems.
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 2
 Potential problems for
Brian Wareing.tech
the Turbines
n It has been known for many years that
wind reduction and turbulence effects
mean that turbines should not be installed
within 2xrotor diameter of other turbines
across the prevailing wind direction and
8xrotor diameter along the prevailing wind
direction, otherwise economic power loss
and possible blade problems can occur

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 3

 Potential Problems for
Brian Wareing.tech
Overhead Lines
n It has been suggested in a study over 8 years ago
[Jean-Louis] that excitation of vibrations in a
power line is possible due to wake eddies from a
wind turbine
n Germany has placed recommendations for the
distance of OHLs from wind turbines in their
National Normative Annexe (NNA) in the
CENELEC European standard EN50341-3-4.
n Problems can arise from two areas:
– More wind in the low speed region (vibration)
– Turbulence affecting bundled conductors (1-3Hz)

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 4

Brian Wareing.tech UK concerns
n Including planned projects, the overall wind power
capacity of the UK is currently set to be 17.4GW from
over 500 wind farms.
Annual Installation Rate (BWEA)

700

600

500

400
MW

300

200

100

0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 5
 The Basic problem 1
Brian Wareing.tech
Vibration
n Overhead lines (OHL) use vibration dampers on their conductors
in normal ‘classical’ wind flow.
n Most of the problems due to vibration, however, occur in relatively
light winds (<5m/s).
n So a tower line that was present before a wind turbine existed
would already have damping suitable for the wind pattern.
n Wind turbines commonly don’t start turning until wind speeds
>4m/s so current low wind speeds not affected.
n With a wind turbine nearby there are two basic wind patterns – the
relatively undisturbed flow around but away from the turbine
blades and the disturbed flow (wave eddies) which passes
through the turbine blade envelope.
n This second area can bring about a major reduction in wind speed
when the OHL is downwind of the turbine.
n This means that for a higher percentage of the time, the OHL
conductors will be in an air flow of <5m/s.
n This may require further damping for the conductors to survive.

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 6

 The Basic problem 2
Brian Wareing.tech
Turbulence
n Turbulence will occur at the boundary between
the two air flows.
n This will be at a frequency similar to the rotational
speed of the turbine blades (0.5 to 1Hz) but over a
relatively short length of conductor (~50-100m).
n This could mean that, for a line with bundled
conductors using spacers, one section (such as a
sub-span) could be in a major turbulent flow
whilst the next section may not be.
n This could cause conductor damage at the spacer
clamp.
n The investigation will look to see where and over
what areas these two effects could be significant
for the OHL.
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 7
Brian Wareing.tech Possibility of damage
n Overhead lines (structures and spans) can have a
1-3Hz resonance.
n Therefore, the turbulence of the new wind pattern
created by the rotating blades may disturb any
structure/span of OHL in the vicinity of wind
turbines.
n Due to the possibility of continuous excitation
caused by the wind turbine wake, fatigue may
occur at clamping points
n So extra strengthening/protection/damping may
be required on the OHL structure and
components.

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 8

Brian Wareing.tech Jean-Louis conclusions
n If wind turbine blades > 33% of conductor
span then 0.3-5Hz oscillations possible.
n 1.5MW turbine has 80m blades
n Peak-to-peak amplitudes of 15cm possible
n Fretting/fatigue damage possible
n Could lead to major problems in bundled
conductors (sub-span oscillation)
n OHLs could suffer damage up to 10x rotor
diameter (800m) downwind

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 9

Brian Wareing.tech Wake from a single turbine

nxD
Wind spectra
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 10
 Wind spectra
Brian Wareing.tech
downstream
2.5D

5D D ~ 80m

10D

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 11

Brian Wareing.tech Turbulence area

Turbulent areas

Danger area Long distance away

For low frequency - No problem
turbulence
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 12
 Horizontal turbulence
Brian Wareing.tech
intensity at hub height

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 13

Brian Wareing.tech Vertical turbulence

So the turbulence can be way above the OHL!

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 14
 Effect on conductor
Brian Wareing.tech
near clamps (Sefag)

The more time the line spends in winds at<4m/s

the shorter its lifetime!
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 15
Brian Wareing.tech BSEN50341-3-4 (2001)
5.4.5 DE.2 Clearance to wind energy converters
Between the rotor blade tip of the wind energy converter in the most
unfavourable position and the closest conductor of the overhead line in
still air the following clearances shall be obeyed:
1. more than or equal to three times the rotor diameter if the
conductors are not damped against wind induced
vibrations
2. more than one times rotor diameter if the conductors are
damped against wind induced vibrations
3. If it is ensured that the overhead transmission line is
outside the wake of the wind energy converter and the
distance between the rotor blade tip in the most
unfavourable position and the closest conductor is more
than one times rotor diameter, it is possible to avoid the
damping of the conductors

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 16

Brian Wareing.tech My conclusions!
n That model and field measurements on wind
turbine wave eddy and wind speed reduction
effects have indicated that there is a significant
risk to the earthwires and upper phase
conductors of tower lines situated within 5 rotor
diameters of the nearest point of a wind turbine.
n Further information is required, however, on the
level of disturbances and how these affect the
OHL conductors and fittings.
n It is therefore necessary that further studies be
set up to more closely define the effect and
thereby to identify the means of nullifying any
increased oscillatory problems by using specific
damper or configuration methods.

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 17

Brian Wareing.tech Scottish Power proposal
n Use a wind tunnel to investigate the wave eddy and
wind speed reduction phenomena over a range of
wind speeds and turbine modes of operation and
orientation
n Monitor an existing line both at current spacer
dampers and the earthwire as well as the nearby
wind turbine operation and meteorological
parameters.
n Determine the wind profile of a particular site of
concern to Scottish Power so that results from the
wind tunnel tests can be applied.
n Evaluation of the increased vibration and other
oscillatory problems identified from the above data
and determine their likely effect on OHL conductor
security.
Wake effects from wind turbines Update 18
Brian Wareing.tech Areas to be investigated

Earth wire (for vibration)

Conductor/clamp (for low frequency effect)

3 x Rotor diameter D

German recommendations

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 19

Brian Wareing.tech Required output
n Recommend changes to negate the
effects of the turbulence that can be
applied to: -
– The OHL support structure.
– The span(s) of conductor(s).
n Together with recommended clearance
distances that should be applied
between any Wind Turbine and: -
– An OHL support structure.
– The span(s) of conductor(s).

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 20

Brian Wareing.tech Current status
n Costs involved in this project have
been determined.
n Scottish Power considering whether
to go ahead on their own or in
conjunction with other UK utilities.

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 21

Brian Wareing.tech

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 22

Brian Wareing.tech

Wake effects from wind turbines Update 23