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>“Modern wind farms are one of the most efficient ways to generate green energy. However, they have one major flaw: as the wind approaches the front row of turb
by probablypower 5y ago
>“Modern wind farms are one of the most efficient ways to generate green energy. However, they have one major flaw: as the wind approaches the front row of turbines, turbulence will be generated downstream. The turbulence is detrimental to the performance of the subsequent rows.”
Yes, this is called a 'wind shadow' and it relates to the slower, turbulent, dirty air coming out of the back of a wind turbine being less energy rich for the turbines behind it. Wind farms are designed to minimize wind shadow impacts based on prevailing wind directions.
> “[VAWTs] can be designed to be much closer together, increasing their efficiency and ultimately lowering the prices of electricity. In the long run, VAWTs can help accelerate the green transition of our energy systems, so that more clean and sustainable energy comes from renewable sources.”
This sounds like it will make the wind shadow effects worse.
> The research found that VAWTs increase each other’s performance when arranged in grid formations
This seems like straight bullshit, and is really unclear. The argument seems to be that VAWTs are somehow positively impacted by wind shadows?
The air coming out the backside of a turbine (VAWT or HAWT) is less energy dense and more turbulent, so the results seem fundamentally flawed. The best design is one that minimizes the amount of 'wind shadow' being swept by turbines.
I am entirely unconvinced.
- amelius 5y agoPerhaps the new design somehow reduces the shadow effect by extracting wind energy from higher layers of air?
- _Microft 5y agoIf you want to have a look at the study, it is linked from the article.
- metalliqaz 5y agoI'm not an expert, but I thought one of the main advantages of vertical turbines was better usage of rapidly changing wind
- mumblemumble 5y agoThe paper's here, if you want to see how they came to the result. The PDF is paywalled, but you can view it in their online reader for free. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812100344X https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812... Properly understanding it is well beyond me, but it looks like it's about carefully arranging the turbines with respect to each other's wakes. While this is based on modeling and not empirical experimentation, it doesn't look like they just pulled the idea out of a hat. Getting the 15% improvement seems to require that the pattern is optimally oriented with respect to the wind direction, so I'm guessing real world benefit wouldn't be anywhere near that great.
- _Microft 5y agoYou can download the paper using the download button in the top right corner of the online reader's menu bar.
- wizzwizz4 5y agoDirect link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812100344X/pdfft?download=true https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812...
- throwaway316943 5y agoVAWTs have a better tolerance for turbulence since they don’t need to face into the wind. They also continue to operate in gusty conditions. They do have downsides but make up for it with a smaller footprint, reduction in moving parts and the advantages listed above.
- ivanhoe 5y ago> The argument seems to be that VAWTs are somehow positively impacted by wind shadows? I'm totally wild-guessing here, but from the header image it looks that they place them in rows with a light offset, with free air-flow channels in-between. Considering the look of the wings, this actually might use the shadow effect to improve the performance, as they role like Tibetan prayer wheels, in succession, where one side is pulled by air going through the channel, while the other half (the one going against the wind direction) is in the shadow which is reducing the negative push.