Denmak: ZephIR Dual Mode Delivers Simultaneous Measurements to DTU Wind Energy

Industry-leading wind lidar company ZephIR Lidar have confirmed, to the best of their knowledge, the world’s first simultaneous measurements taken upwind and downwind of a wind turbine for the Technical University of Denmark, Wind Energy department, formerly known as Risø DTU.

The measurements were taken using two ZephIR Dual Mode systems deployed at the front and aft of a test turbine at the client site as part of the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation program focussing on turbine integrated wind Lidar experiments.

During the final presentation to project stakeholders professor Torben Mikkelsen of DTU Wind Energy commented: “The Nacelle mounted ZephIR Dual Mode installed at DTU Risø Campus as part of the Danish Advanced Technology Foundation Wind Lidar project apparently provided results as accurate as our well calibrated met mast!”

 Ian Locker, Managing Director of ZephIR Lidar welcomed the announcement: “In 2003 we delivered world first upwind measurements from a turbine nacelle…. Roll forward a decade and we’ve now combined that with simultaneous measurements downwind. In ten years our system has accumulated a wealth of experience and track record that none can match – our new product ZephIR Dual Mode is now supplying DTU Wind Energy world class measurements that only ZephIR can provide, namely vertical shear and veer, as well as both hub height and important rotor equivalent wind speed measurements; unique to ZephIR.”

Results from the project will be published shortly but an initial set of lidar versus mast comparisons demonstrate excellent agreement.

The latest measurements add to the world firsts listed below and are the earliest reported examples that the company is aware of from open publications:

•  2003 – The first wind lidar to make upwind measurements from a turbine nacelle
•  2004 – The first and original commercially available lidar for the wind industry
•  2004 – The first wind lidar to investigate the behaviour of turbine wakes
•  2005 – The first wind lidar to be deployed offshore on a fixed platform
•  2008 – The first wind lidar to be signed off against an industry-accepted validation process
•  2009 – The first wind lidar to take measurements from a turbine spinner
•  2009 – The first wind lidar to be deployed offshore on a floating platform (SeaZephIR)
•  2010 – The first wind lidar to re-finance and re-power a wind farm
•  2011 – The first wind lidar to be proven in a wind tunnel
•  2012 – The first wind lidar to be used with very short masts and secure project financing
•  2013 – The first wind lidar to provide true dual mode functionality in one platform; ground based and turbine mounted

ZephIR 300 measures wind characteristics onshore and on fixed or floating platforms offshore from just 10 metres (33 feet) up to 300 metres (984 feet) from installed position to inform wind regime and quality studies during the development and operation of wind farms onshore and offshore. ZephIR 300 is accurate, reliable and affordable, adding value to wind energy projects at every stage – from pre-planning, through development and on to operation. Every system is uniquely subjected to an industry-approved validation process, part of which occurs at the UK’s Lidar and Sodar test site, ensuring repeatable finance-grade data.

ZephIR DM is a Dual Mode variation of the successful 300 system. Mounted inside the spinner or on top of the nacelle, ZephIR DM measures wind characteristics in front of or behind a turbine from just 10 metres (33 feet) out to 300 metres (984 feet), during the operation of wind farms onshore and offshore. ZephIR DM provides valuable advanced wind data for the optimised performance and alignment of wind turbines, for in-situ power performance measurements, to reduce wind loading on turbine components and for specific troubleshooting applications.

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Press release, May 19, 2013; Image: zephirlidar