Wind profile power law
Encyclopedia
The wind profile power law is a relationship between the wind speeds at one height, and those at another.
The power law is often used in wind power
assessments where wind speeds at the height of a turbine (>~ 50 metres) must be estimated from near surface wind observations (~10 metres), or where wind speed data at various heights must be adjusted to a standard height prior to use. Wind profiles are generated and used in a number of atmospheric pollution dispersion models.
The wind profile of the atmospheric boundary layer
(surface to around 2000 metres) is generally logarithmic in nature and is best approximated using the log wind profile
equation that accounts for surface roughness and atmospheric stability
. The wind profile power law relationship is often used as a substitute for the log wind profile when surface roughness or stability information is not available.
The wind profile power law relationship is:
where u is the wind speed (in metres per second) at height z (in metres), and ur is the known wind speed at a reference height zr. The exponent (α) is an empirically derived coefficient that varies dependent upon the stability of the atmosphere. For neutral stability
conditions, α is approximately 1/7, or 0.143.
In order to estimate the wind speed at a certain height x, the relationship would be rearranged to:
The value of 1/7 for α is commonly assumed to be constant in wind resource assessments, because the differences between the two levels are not usually so great as to introduce substantial errors into the estimates (usually < 50 m). However, when a constant exponent is used, it does not account for the roughness of the surface, the displacement of calm winds from the surface due to the presence of obstacles (i.e., zero-plane displacement), or the stability of the atmosphere. In places where trees or structures impede the near-surface wind, the use of a constant 1/7 exponent may yield quite erroneous estimates, and the log wind profile
is preferred. Even under neutral stability conditions, an exponent of 0.11 is more appropriate over open water (e.g., for offshore wind farms), than 0.143, which is more applicable over open land surfaces.
The power law is often used in wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
assessments where wind speeds at the height of a turbine (>~ 50 metres) must be estimated from near surface wind observations (~10 metres), or where wind speed data at various heights must be adjusted to a standard height prior to use. Wind profiles are generated and used in a number of atmospheric pollution dispersion models.
The wind profile of the atmospheric boundary layer
Boundary layer
In physics and fluid mechanics, a boundary layer is that layer of fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface where effects of viscosity of the fluid are considered in detail. In the Earth's atmosphere, the planetary boundary layer is the air layer near the ground affected by diurnal...
(surface to around 2000 metres) is generally logarithmic in nature and is best approximated using the log wind profile
Log wind profile
The Log wind profile is a semi-empirical relationship used to describe the vertical distribution of horizontal wind speeds above the ground within the atmospheric surface layer...
equation that accounts for surface roughness and atmospheric stability
Air pollution dispersion terminology
Air pollution dispersion terminology includes the words and technical terms that have a special meaning to those who work in the field of air pollution dispersion modeling...
. The wind profile power law relationship is often used as a substitute for the log wind profile when surface roughness or stability information is not available.
The wind profile power law relationship is:
- u/ur = (z/zr)α
where u is the wind speed (in metres per second) at height z (in metres), and ur is the known wind speed at a reference height zr. The exponent (α) is an empirically derived coefficient that varies dependent upon the stability of the atmosphere. For neutral stability
Air pollution dispersion terminology
Air pollution dispersion terminology includes the words and technical terms that have a special meaning to those who work in the field of air pollution dispersion modeling...
conditions, α is approximately 1/7, or 0.143.
In order to estimate the wind speed at a certain height x, the relationship would be rearranged to:
- ux = ur(zx/zr)α
The value of 1/7 for α is commonly assumed to be constant in wind resource assessments, because the differences between the two levels are not usually so great as to introduce substantial errors into the estimates (usually < 50 m). However, when a constant exponent is used, it does not account for the roughness of the surface, the displacement of calm winds from the surface due to the presence of obstacles (i.e., zero-plane displacement), or the stability of the atmosphere. In places where trees or structures impede the near-surface wind, the use of a constant 1/7 exponent may yield quite erroneous estimates, and the log wind profile
Log wind profile
The Log wind profile is a semi-empirical relationship used to describe the vertical distribution of horizontal wind speeds above the ground within the atmospheric surface layer...
is preferred. Even under neutral stability conditions, an exponent of 0.11 is more appropriate over open water (e.g., for offshore wind farms), than 0.143, which is more applicable over open land surfaces.
Wind power density
Estimates of wind power density are presented as wind class, ranging from 1 to 7. The speeds are average wind speeds over the course of a year, although the frequency distribution of wind speed can provide different power densities for the same average wind speed.| Class | 10 m (33 ft) | 30 m (98 ft) | 50 m (164 ft) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind power density (W/m2) | Speed m/s (mph) | Wind power density (W/m2) | Speed m/s (mph) | Wind power density (W/m2) | Speed m/s (mph) | |
| 1 | 0 - 100 | 0 - 4.4 (0 - 9.8) |
0 - 160 | 0 - 5.1 (0 - 11.4) |
0 - 200 | 0 - 5.6 (0 - 12.5) |
| 2 | 100 - 150 | 4.4 - 5.1 (9.8 - 11.5) |
160 - 240 | 5.1 - 5.9 (11.4 - 13.2) |
200 - 300 | 5.6 - 6.4 (12.5 - 14.3) |
| 3 | 150 - 200 | 5.1 - 5.6 (11.5 - 12.5) |
240 - 320 | 5.9 - 6.5 (13.2 - 14.6) |
300 - 400 | 6.4 - 7.0 (14.3 - 15.7) |
| 4 | 200 - 250 | 5.6 - 6.0 (12.5 - 13.4) |
320 - 400 | 6.5 - 7.0 (14.6 - 15.7) |
400 - 500 | 7.0 - 7.5 (15.7 - 16.8) |
| 5 | 250 - 300 | 6.0 - 6.4 (13.4 - 14.3) |
400 - 480 | 7.0 - 7.4 (15.7 - 16.6) |
500 - 600 | 7.5 - 8.0 (16.8 - 17.9) |
| 6 | 300 - 400 | 6.4 - 7.0 (14.3 - 15.7) |
480 - 640 | 7.4 - 8.2 (16.6 - 18.3) |
600 - 800 | 8.0 - 8.8 (17.9 - 19.7) |
| 7 | 400 - 1000 | 7.0 - 9.4 (15.7 - 21.1) |
640 - 1600 | 8.2 - 11.0 (18.3 - 24.7) |
800 - 2000 | 8.8 - 11.9 (19.7 - 26.6) |