Estimating atmospheric stability from observations and correcting wind shear models accordingly

Abstract

Atmospheric stability strongly influences wind shear and thus has to be considered when performing load calculations for wind turbine design. Numerous methods exist however for obtaining stability in terms of the Obukhov length L as well as for correcting the logarithmic wind profile. It is therefore questioned to what extend the choice of adopted methods influences results when performing load analyses. Four methods found in literature for obtaining L, and five methods to correct the logarithmic wind profile for stability are included in the analyses (two for unstable, three for stable conditions). The four methods used to estimate stability from observations result in different PDF's of L, which in turn results in differences in estimated lifetime fatigue loads up to 81%. For unstable conditions hardly any differences are found when using either of the proposed stability correction functions, neither in wind shear nor in fatigue loads. For stable conditions however the proposed stability correction functions differ significantly, and the standard correction for stable conditions might strongly overestimate fatigue loads caused by wind shear (up to 15% differences). Due to the large differences found, it is recommended to carefully choose how to obtain stability and correct wind shear models accordingly.