From Turbulent Inflow to Farm-Scale Performance: Wake Dynamics in Horizontally Staggered Wind Farms
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Horizontally staggered wind farms consistently outperform aligned layouts, yet the flow mechanisms responsible for these gains remain poorly understood. In this study, large-eddy simulations coupled with an actuator line model are used to investigate wake interactions and energy transport in a finite 6x4 wind turbine array under identical inflow conditions. The analysis focuses on momentum and kinetic energy budgets, turbulent transport pathways, and spectral characteristics of velocity fluctuations. By isolating layout effects, the study provides a physics-based explanation for the enhanced performance of staggered wind farms and offers insights for layout optimization grounded in turbulent flow dynamics rather than purely geometric considerations.
