Modeling and Simulation of Wind Shear and Tower Shadow on Wind Turbines

This paper focuses on the modeling and simulation in Matlab/Simulink of the effects of wind shear and tower shadow in a three bladed, variable-speed wind turbine system. The study of the mechanical stress, the mitigation of the torque oscillations and the improvement of the aerodynamic efficiency below rated wind speed, can be attained with a proper modeling of the turbine system. This paper is a contribution on the study of the effects of wind shear and tower shadow, often approximated or neglected, that have to be properly understood, considered and modeled in order to get a better performance of the turbine system.