Beyond the Ainslie Model: 3D Navier-Stokes Simulation of Wind Flow through Large Offshore Wind Farms

A CFD model is presented that can be used for the calculation of the wind and turbulence conditions in largescale offshore wind farms. Information on wind shear and turbulence intensity increase can be derived from the model for the purpose of fatigue load calculations. Advantages over current engineering wake models are presented and verification results are summarised related to onshore near-wake measurements and to the Horns Rev wind farm.