NEWS: For recent use of SUMO, see
this paper in Acta Geophysica.
This PSO funded project investigated a new approach for measurements in wind power meteorology using small unmanned flying platforms. A lighter-than-air vehicle, two small electrically powered aeroplanes and a larger helicopter were bound to fly at the Risø test station at Høvsøre. We intended to compare wind speed measurements with fixed mast and LIDAR measurements, investigate optimal flight patterns for each measurement task, and measure other interesting meteorological features like the air-sea boundary in the vicinity of the wind farm. However, for legal reasons we could not fly at Høvsøre, so we were airborne at Nøjsomheds Odde in May, 2011. In order to prepare the measurement campaign, a
workshop was held on 12 July 2010, soliciting input from various communities.
At DONGs wind farm in Nøjsomhed, we were assisted by the local organiser,
IWAL. See a description of the LTA system
here. Due to unfortunate crashes of the flying hardware, we were only two teams: Risø DTU furnishing a Lidar and the LTA system, including the nanosync data acquisition system and the main developer at DELTA, and the University of Bergen group flying three SUMOs, including one with a 100Hz turbulence probe.
The project has ended, and produced one of the last
Risø reports. On over 80 pages, it goes into detail about the potential for small flying sensors for wind energy, details the technological advances achieved during the project, shows some results from the tests at flight week, details the reasons why we did not quite achieve all the tests we intended, and outlines an offshore campaign.
If successful, the planes could be used in such diverse areas as the investigation of turbulence structure in wakes, for work on the comparison between line measurements and fixed measurement relating to Taylor's Hypothesis, for more general meteorology like the investigation of the air-sea boundary, the top of the boundary layer or the night-time stability structure. Additional services for the wind power industry could include inspection of wings or other difficult to access parts.
We authored a paper for EWEC 2011 with a lot of background and ideas. |
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| This project assembles four different UAVs from four participating groups. Risø will build a lighter-than-air kite with a long tether, Bergen University flies a derivative of the Funjet, a pusher airplane of 580g total weight, the University of Tübingen in conjunction with TU Braunschweig flies the M2AV (Meteorological Mini Aerial Vehicle), a 2m wide two prop model Carolo plane with a pitot tube on the nose, and Aalborg University will use a helicopter equipped with a sonic anemometer. All those platforms will be flown during one week, probably at the Danish national test station for large wind turbines at Høvsøre. The site is strongly instrumented, with 6 masts above 100m height, one even reaching up to 167m. The comparison of wind speed measurements from planes and fixed masts should give an indication of the accuracy of the measured wind field. |
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| On July 12, 2010, we organised a workshop as preparation for the flights later this year. We would like to get input on three main topics: wind speed measurements, wind power meteorological questions and flight related issues. |
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| The project is funded by Energinet.dk, under the Public Service Obligation initiative (PSO Project nr. 2009-1-10268). |
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