Optimal, reliability-based turbine placement in offshore wind turbine parks

Abstract

Offshore wind turbines for electricity production placed in wind farms are expected to be of one of the major future contributors for sustainable energy production. In this article, some of the problems associated with optimal planning and design of wind turbine parks are addressed. The number of wind turbines in a park is usually restricted to be placed within a fixed, limited geographical area. Behind a wind turbine, a wake is formed where the mean wind speed decreases and the turbulence intensity increases. The distance between the turbines is among other things dependent on the recovery of wind energy behind the neighboring turbines and the increased wind load. Models for the mean wind speed and turbulence intensity in wind turbine parks are considered with emphasis on modeling the spatial correlation. Representative limit state equations for structural failure of wind turbine towers are formulated. The probability of failure is determined taking into account that wind turbines are parked for wind speeds larger than 25 m/s resulting in reduced wind loads. An illustrative example is presented where illustrative models for the spatial correlation is taken into account.

Keywords:

• Wind turbine parks
• Reliability analysis
• Optimal design

Acknowledgements

The work presented in this article is part of the project ‘Probabilistic design of wind turbines’ supported by the Danish Research Agency, grant no. 2104-05-0075. The financial support is greatly appreciated.