Turbinedrift

Turbinedrift is a phenomenon observed in the behavior of wind turbines, particularly in wind farms. It occurs when the turbines in a wind farm are not perfectly aligned with the prevailing wind direction. This misalignment can lead to a complex interaction between the turbines and the wind, resulting in a drift of the entire wind farm in the direction of the wind. This drift is not a physical movement of the turbines but rather a shift in the effective wind direction experienced by the turbines.

The cause of turbinedrift is the wake effect, where the turbines downstream in the wind direction experience a reduced wind speed due to the turbulence created by the upstream turbines. This reduced wind speed can cause the downstream turbines to yaw (rotate about a vertical axis) to align with the effective wind direction, which is now skewed by the wake effect. As more turbines yaw, the entire wind farm can drift in the direction of the wind, creating a feedback loop that reinforces the drift.

Turbinedrift can have significant implications for wind farm design and operation. It can lead to increased wear and tear on the turbines, as they are constantly yawing to align with the effective wind direction. It can also affect the overall energy production of the wind farm, as the turbines may not be optimally aligned with the wind direction. To mitigate turbinedrift, wind farm designers often use techniques such as staggering the turbines in the wind direction or using active yaw control systems to keep the turbines aligned with the wind.