Improved Detection and Quantification of Wind Gusts

Overview

Under funding from NSF we are testing a potentially transformative concept - use of data from seismographs to detect, characterize and quantify extreme sustained wind events and wind gusts. Our objective is to determine the degree to which seismic arrays can be used to quantify the occurrence, intensity and directional orientation of wind gusts and intense sustained wind speeds. We will analyze seismic data from the Transportable Array (TA) of the EarthScope program, and meteorological observations from NWS ASOS stations, and TA meteorologically enhanced stations distributed across the contiguous US. Using a suite of data analytics we will determine: Under what conditions high surface winds (both sustained winds and gusts) produce a signal in the seismometers, the frequency of the signal, and the generalizability of the relationship between wind gust magnitude and seismic response.

Under funding from the ACSF we are testing a related and equally potentially transformative concept - use of data from seismographs in condition (i.e. health) monitoring of built structures.

News!

Our work is being featured on the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) website. Click here to visit their site and view their summary

Equipment deployed at a wind farm in northern New York State

We have deployed sonic anemometers and barometers, along with seismometers on loan from the NSF funded Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Portable Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL) Instrument Center and EarthScope USArray Array Operations Facility (AOF). Click on any photo to enlarge. Click again to hide.

Meteorological mast with barometer and sonic anemometers

Seismic Data Acquisition System (DAS)

Geophone

In Aug 2016 we deployed a number of seismometers at the wind farm for condition monitoring

Part of the team celebrates a completed installation of an STS-2 sensor

Lowering the broadband seismometer into the vault (thank heavens for long arms!)

Methodologies & Results

ASOS Gust Map & TA-ASOS Station Pairs used in our Analyses

Power Spectral Analyses of Seismic Data During Gust Periods and Without Gusts.

Wavelet Analysis of Seismic Data. Note the enhancement of variance in f=0.01-0.1 Hz during the period of gusts

A very detailed site analyses for an example TA site H58A (site used in the work to the left)

Publications

Scientific Journals

Hu W., Pryor S.C., Letson F. and Barthelmie R.J. (2017): Using seismic analyses for the wind energy industry. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering 139(5) 051007 (SOL-17-1079, doi: 10.1115/1.4037218).

Hu W., Pryor S.C., Letson F., Tytell J., and Barthelmie R.J. (2017): Investigation of gust-seismic relationships and applications to gust detection. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 122 140-151.

Trade magazines

Barthelmie R.J. and Pryor S.C. (2017): Flow characterization in complex terrain: Use of lidars to quantify flow and wind turbine wakes. WindTech International, 13 #5 p6-9 (Invited Feature).

Pryor S.C., Hu W., Letson F. and Barthelmie R.J. (2016): Applications of seismic analyses to the wind energy industry. EnergyTech Magazine, November 2016 issue, 8pp http://www.energy-tech.com/advanced_energy/article_0b281b0c-a5f4-11e6-ad6e-4fcbdc8c0992.html

Conference presentation/papers

Pryor S.C., Barthelmie R.J., Brown L.D., Hu W. and Letson F.W. (2017): How can use of seismometers advance the wind energy industry? Wind Energy Science conference, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, June 2017.

Hu W., Pryor S.C., Letson F. and Barthelmie R.J. (2017): Using seismic analyses in the wind energy industry. ASME Power & Energy Conference, Charlotte NC, June 2017 (7pp abstract).

Letson F., Hu W., Barthelmie R.J., Tytell J. and Pryor S.C. (2017): Wind gust quantification using seismic measurements. ASME Power & Energy Conference, Charlotte NC, June 2017 (8pp abstract).

Pryor S.C., Hu W., Letson F. and Barthelmie R.J. (2017): A new approach to wind turbine condition monitoring. AWEA WindPower conference, Anaheim CA, May 2017 (4pp abstract).

Letson F., Pryor S.C., Hu W., and Barthelmie R.J. (2017): Wind gust quantification across the United States using seismic and sonic anemometers. AWEA WindPower conference, Anaheim CA, May 2017 (4pp abstract).

Hu W., Pryor S.C., Letson F., and Barthelmie R.J. (2016): Investigation of Gust-Seismic Relationships and Applications to Gust Detection. ASME 2016 Power and Energy conference, Charlotte NC, June 2016.

Pryor S.C., Hu W., Letson F., and Barthelmie R.J. (2016): Improved detection and quantification of wind gusts: Thinking outside the anemometer. 2016 Wind Energy Research Workshop, Lowell, MA, March 2016.