WRF Modeling of Deep Convection and Hail for Wind Power Applications

TLDR: In this article, a 25-day Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulation conducted at convection-permitting resolution and using a detailed microphysics scheme is carried out for the Southern Great Plains (SGP) to evaluate the effectiveness in modelling the 15 wind and precipitation conditions relevant to LEE potential.

Abstract: 6 Deep convection and the related occurrence of hail, intense precipitation and wind gusts 7 represent a hazard to a range of energy infrastructure including wind turbine blades. Wind 8 turbine blade leading edge erosion (LEE) is caused by the impact of falling hydrometeors onto 9 rotating wind turbine blades. It is a major source of wind turbine maintenance costs and energy 10 losses from wind farms. In the United States Southern Great Plains (SGP), where there is 11 widespread wind energy development, deep convection and hail events are common, increasing 12 the potential for precipitation-driven LEE. A 25-day Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) 13 model simulation conducted at convection-permitting resolution and using a detailed 14 microphysics scheme is carried out for the SGP to evaluate the effectiveness in modelling the 15 wind and precipitation conditions relevant to LEE potential. WRF output for these properties is 16 evaluated using radar observations of precipitation (including hail) and reflectivity, in situ wind 17 speed measurements and wind power generation. This research demonstrates some skill for the 18 primary drivers of LEE. Wind speeds, rainfall rates and precipitation totals show good agreement 19 with observations. The occurrence of precipitation during power producing wind speeds is also 20 shown to exhibit fidelity. Hail events frequently occur during periods when wind turbines are 21 Early Online Release: This preliminary version has been accepted for publication in Journal of Applied Meteorology and limatology, may be fully cited, and has been assigned DOI The final typeset copyedited article will replace the EOR at the above DOI when it is published. © 20 ological Society C 20 American Meteor 10.1175/JAMC-D-20-0033.1. D ow naded rom http:urnals.am ets.org/jam c/article-oi/10.1175/JAM C -D -20-003/4992799/jam cd2033.pdf by gest on 03 Sptem er 2020