Microturbulence and Spatial Path Averaging

Wind measurement systems often operate in complex flow fields where local effects such as microturbulence and wake structures can influence the measurement signal. Especially in wind turbines, not every short-term fluctuation in wind direction is relevant. For applications such as nacelle control (yaw control), what matters most is a stable and representative measurement of the average wind direction.

An important influencing factor here is the way in which the flow is measured. In the principle of spatial path averaging, the wind is not measured at a single point but is averaged along a defined measurement path. This allows multiple flow components to be taken into account and reduces local fluctuations. In our latest newsletter (browser view), we explain the role that microturbulence, measurement path length, and spatial path averaging play in wind measurement.

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