Abstract
Given factors such as reduced land availability for onshore wind farms, wind resource enrichment levels, and costs, there is a growing trend of establishing wind farms in deserts, the Gobi, and other arid regions. Therefore, the relationship between sand-dust weather environments and wind turbine operations has garnered significant attention. To investigate the impact of wind turbine wakes on sand-dust transportation, this study employs large eddy simulation to model flow fields, coupled with an actuator line model for simulating rotating blades and a multiphase particle in cell model for simulating sand particles. The research focuses on a horizontal axis wind turbine model and examines the motion and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of four typical sizes of sand particles in the turbine wake. The findings reveal that sand particles of varying sizes exhibit a spiral settling pattern after traversing the rotating plane of wind turbine blades, influenced by blade shedding vortex and gravity. Sand particles tend to cluster in the peripheries of the vortex cores of low vorticity in the wind turbine wake. The rotation of wind turbines generates a wake vortex structure that causes a significant clustering of sand particles at the tip vortex. As the wake distance increases, the particles that cluster at the turbine’s tip gradually spread outward to approximately twice the rotor diameter and then begin to mix with the incoming flow environment. Wind turbines have a noticeable impact on sand-dust transportation, hindering their movement to a significant extent. The average sand-blocking rate exhibits a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing as the wake distance increases. At its peak, the sand-blocking rate reaches an impressive 67.55%. The presence of wind turbines induces the advanced settling of sand particles, resulting in a “triangular” distribution of the deposition within the ground projection area of the wake.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Y. Wang, R. Wang, K. Tanaka, P. Ciais, J. Penuelas, Y. Balkanski, J. Sardans, D. Hauglustaine, W. Liu, X. Xing, J. Li, S. Xu, Y. Xiong, R. Yang, J. Cao, J. Chen, L. Wang, X. Tang, and R. Zhang, Nature 619, 761 (2023).
M. G. Khalfallah, and A. M. Koliub, Desalination 209, 209 (2007).
P. He, N. C. Chen, and D. M. Hu, Key Eng. Mater. 474–476, 811 (2011).
D. Li, Z. Zhao, Y. Li, Q. Wang, R. Li, and Y. Li, Appl. Math. Mech.-Engl. Ed. 39, 639 (2018).
Y. Li, F. Chen, R. Li, D. Li, and X. Guo, Int. Trans. Electr. Energ. Syst. 31, e12541 (2021).
S. Baidya Roy, and J. J. Traiteur, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107, 17899 (2010).
K. A. Adkins, and A. Sescu, Energies 15, 2603 (2022).
J. Mo, T. Huang, X. Zhang, Y. Zhao, X. Liu, J. Li, H. Gao, and J. Ma, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 17, 14239 (2017).
Q. Wang, K. Luo, C. Wu, and J. Fan, Energy 183, 1136 (2019).
T. Wang, X. Zou, B. Li, Y. Yao, J. Li, H. Hui, W. Yu, and C. Wang, Mar. Pollut. Bull. 128, 466 (2018).
Q. Dai, K. Luo, T. Jin, and J. Fan, J. Fluid Mech. 832, 438 (2017).
G. Wang, H. Gu, and X. Zheng, Phys. Fluids 32, 106604 (2020).
X. Zheng, G. Wang, and W. Zhu, J. Fluid Mech. 914, A35 (2021).
A. Gunn, M. Wanker, N. Lancaster, D. A. Edmonds, R. C. Ewing, and D. J. Jerolmack, Geophys. Res. Lett. 48, e2020GL090924 (2021).
Y. Shao, J. Zhang, M. Ishizuka, M. Mikami, J. Leys, and N. Huang, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 20, 12939 (2020).
P. He, J. Zhang, H. J. Herrmann, and N. Huang, Sci. Bull. 67, 1421 (2022).
K. Luo, J. Fan, W. Li, and K. Cen, Fuel 88, 1294 (2009).
J. Yao, Y. Zhao, N. Li, Y. Zheng, G. Hu, J. Fan, and K. Cen, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 51, 10936 (2012).
H. Homann, and J. Bec, Phys. Fluids 27, 053301 (2015), arXiv: 1501.06755.
Z. Shi, F. Jiang, H. Strandenes, L. Zhao, and H. I. Andersson, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 130, 103332 (2020).
Z. Shi, F. Jiang, L. Zhao, and H. I. Andersson, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 141, 103678 (2021).
S. Lin, J. Liu, H. Xia, Z. Zhang, and X. Ao, Appl. Math. Model. 103, 287 (2022).
S. E. Smith, K. N. Travis, H. Djeridi, M. Obligado, and R. B. Cal, Renew. Energy 164, 346 (2021).
K. N. Travis, S. E. Smith, L. Vignal, H. Djeridi, M. Bourgoin, R. B. Cal, and M. Obligado, J. Fluid Mech. 933, A42 (2022).
M. J. Andrews, and P. J. O’Rourke, Int. J. Multiphase Flow 22, 379 (1996).
S. Elghobashi, Appl. Sci. Res. 52, 309 (1994).
J. N. Sørensen, and W. Z. Shen, J. Fluids Eng. 124, 393 (2002).
Z. Zheng, Z. T. Gao, D. S. Li, R. N. Li, Y. Li, Q. H. Hu, and W. R. Hu, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 61, 94712 (2018).
Z. Gao, Y. Li, T. Wang, W. Shen, X. Zheng, S. Pröbsting, D. Li, and R. Li, Renew. Energy 172, 263 (2021).
Z. Gao, Y. Li, T. Wang, S. Ke, and D. Li, Appl. Math. Mech-Engl. 42, 411 (2021).
C. R. Shapiro, D. F. Gayme, and C. Meneveau, J. Fluid Mech. 841, R1 (2018).
M. Wang, H. Ming, W. Huo, H. Xu, J. Li, and X. Li, J. Arid Land 9, 753 (2017).
H. Ming, M. Wei, and M. Wang, Atmosphere 10, 511 (2019).
E. Liang, G. Ma, Y. Li, X. Zheng, F. Wu, S. Li, and D. Li, Sci. Sin-Phys. Mech. Astron. 53, 234701 (2023).
G. Ma, J. Chang, D. Li, C. Huo, N. Liu, and R. Li, Acta Energ. Solaris Sin. 44, 390 (2023).
G. Ma, C. Huo, D. Li, and J. Chang, Acta Energ. Solaris Sin. 44, 444 (2023).
W. Zhang, C. D. Markfort, and F. Porté-Agel, Exp. Fluids 52, 1219 (2011).
D. S. Li, T. Guo, Y. R. Li, J. S. Hu, Z. Zheng, Y. Li, Y. J. Di, W. R. Hu, and R. N. Li, Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 61, 94711 (2018).
V. P. Stein, and H. J. Kaltenbach, J. Phys.-Conf. Ser. 753, 032061 (2016).
R. Monchaux, M. Bourgoin, and A. Cartellier, Phys. Fluids 22, 103304 (2010).
N. Huang, and J. Zhang, Proc. IUTAM 17, 129 (2015).
X. Chen, Z. Jiang, Q. Li, Y. Li, and N. Ren, J. Offshore Mech. Arctic Eng. 142, 052003 (2020).
Q. Hu, Y. Li, Y. Di, and J. Chen, J. Renew. Sustain. Energy 9, 064501 (2017).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
This work was supported by the National Key Research & Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2022YFB4202102, and 2022YFB4202104), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52166014, and 52276197), the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of Gansu Province (Grant No. 21JR7RA277), and the Hongliu Outstanding Young Talents Program of Lanzhou University of Technology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ma, G., Han, H., Li, Y. et al. Numerical and experimental study of the effects of wind turbine operation on sand-dust transport characteristics. Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 67, 244711 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-023-2284-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-023-2284-1