Wind Turbine Wake and Helicopter Operations - Wind turbine wake computations & Code enhancements, Partner contributions

Abstract

With the increasing amount of wind energy produced by wind turbines both on land and offshore, together with the close interaction of helicopter flight in the direct vicinity of a wind turbine (park), the need to investigate the interrelation between the wind turbine wake and the effect on helicopter handling and therefor safety and the influence on operations, was recognised by both the Civil Aviation Authorities, Airport organisations and helicopter operators. The Garteur Helicopter Group of Responsables initiated the formation of the HC-AG23 Action Group ‘Helicopter operations and wind turbine wakes’, to set up a team of researchers from European industry and research institutes to cooperate on acquiring relevant data, to identify wind turbine wake parameters, investigate the helicopter dynamics while flying into the wake by off-line and piloted simulation studies, identify potential safety issues and finally, report and disseminate the findings to the proper authorities. This deliverable reports on the partner’s activities related to the computation of a relevant wind turbine wake, to be used for the analyses of wind turbine wake and helicopter encounters.