"Energy Production of Wind Turbines Clusters in Large Scale Wind Farms"

Abstract

The present thesis explores different strategies for clustered wind farms planning taking into consideration different significant parameters including the wind resources, wind turbine types and heights, row shape, distance between rows and locations of wind farms. It aims to identify the effects of clustering wind turbines in adjacent wind farms on the energy production. Elaborations of existing sites planning and hypothetical planning scenarios are used to guide setting wind turbines layout. Wind turbines positions are initially suggested through applying a specially developed code coupled with Genetic Algorithm solver. The layout is then adjusted with recommended inputs and considering the topography of the site.

Data sets from six existing wind farms at Zafarana area on the Suez Gulf, Egypt, are used for the purpose of the analysis. The predicted results show that the proposed planning strategies and treatment bring together substantial enhancement of overall energy production, minimum wake losses and lower cost compared with the existing case.