Wake effect in wind farms: comparative study of models and their impact on power production

Abstract

This study presents a quantitative comparison between the Jensen and Ishihara wake models to assess their impact on power output in wind farms. Both models were applied in a MATLAB-based simulation environment using pseudo-random number generation to optimize the configuration of 30 ENERCON E2 turbines on a 100-cell grid. Wind speeds between 7 m/s and 12 m/s were simulated. The Ishihara model predicted 57.96 MW at 12 m/s, corresponding to a 2.09% reduction in power, while the Jensen model predicted 55.71 MW, corresponding to a 5.89% reduction. For the Jensen model, the wake radius at x/D=10 was 4.53; for the Ishihara model, it was 2.05. The results show that the Ishihara model provides more accurate predictions of wake behavior and energy yield. At wind speeds close to the rated value (13 m/s), where wake effects become insignificant, both models agree. These results highlight the need to select an appropriate wake model in the design of wind farms to achieve optimal turbine placement and accurate energy predictions.