Geometrical approach for wind farm symmetrical layout design optimization

Wind farm layout orientation plays an important factor to reduce the total wake loss and hence increase the capacity factor of the wind farm. Different wind farms layout design optimization techniques are widely used and classified into five different types including, Pattern Search Algorithm (PSAs), Gradient Search Algorithms (GSAs), Greedy Heuristic Algorithms (GHAs), Simulated Annealing Algorithms (SAAs), and Genetic Algorithms (GAs). The quality of the optimized solution depends on the complexity of the used algorithm. This paper proposes a simple geometrical approach which can be easily used by designers in setting their initial layout which will save significant computational time during the design optimization process. It considers symmetrical wind farm layouts which satisfy visual environmental constraints. The proposed approach shows that the optimum wind farm layout is displaced around 18o from the predominant wind median axis. Validation of the proposed approach is also presented for three sites in the Sultanate of Oman using the European computer program “Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP)”.