System and method for evaluating wind flow fields using remote sensing devices

A method for determining one or more characteristics of a complex wind flow field within or adjacent to a wind turbine or array of wind turbines, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a coordinated data from a first remote sensing device and a second remote sensing device positioned to scan a portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines using a set of sectors and elevation angles focused on the portion of the complex wind flow field;
• constructing a three-dimensional gridded data set of wind speed, wind direction and height for the portion of the complex wind flow field disposed within both the first scanning sector and the second scanning sector using the coordinated data and the one or more processors;
• and
• determining the one or more characteristics of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines by analyzing the three-dimensional gridded data set using the one or more complex wind flows and the one or more processors, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a plurality of center points and at least one vertical profile of wind speeds for one or more turbine wake(s).

A system for obtaining data to determine one or more characteristics of a complex wind flow field within or adjacent to a wind turbine or array of wind turbines, the method comprising the steps of:

• a first remote sensing device positioned to have a portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines disposed within a first scanning sector of the first remote sensing device;
• a second remote sensing device positioned to have the portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines disposed within a second scanning sector of the second remote sensing device;
• and
• one or more processors that collect a coordinated data from the first remote sensing device and the second remote sensing device using a set of sectors and elevation angles focused on the portion of the complex wind flow field disposed within both the first scanning sector and the second scanning sector, construct a three-dimensional gridded data set of wind speed, wind direction and height for the portion of the complex wind flow field disposed within both the first scanning sector and the second scanning sector using the coordinated data and the one or more processors, and determine the one or more characteristics of the portion of the complex wind flow field within or adjacent to the wind turbine or array of wind turbines by analyzing the three-dimensional gridded data set using the one or more processors, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise a plurality of center points and at least one vertical profile of wind speeds for one or more turbine wake(s).