Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements

Jacob Oduogo; Henry Barasa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

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Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements

Jacob Oduogo, Henry Barasa

Published in Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Received: 18 May 2022 Accepted: 15 June 2022 Published: 27 June 2022

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Abstract

The sonic anemometer is widely recognized as a precise and accurate instrument for measuring and studying atmospheric wind speed and turbulence that works on the principle of measuring the difference in the transit time of acoustic pulses along a known path length. Desirable characteristics of the sonic anemometer include lack of moving parts, linear dynamic response, and good directional response. However, the sensor probes and support structures inevitably lead to a deformation of the flow field being examined resulting in transducer shadowing and flow distortion errors. An empirical method of determining the effects of flow distortion errors on measurements is utilized. While deviations in the horizontal wind are negligible, investigations clearly indicate the need for correction of raw data on vertical wind measurements. Simulations have been conducted using a synthetic time series to determine the impact of observed errors on turbulence, with indications that measurements have a dependence on the angle of attack. Using the series at angles of elevation varying between -12° and 12°, a deviation in turbulence by over 30% is observed for certain wind directions. Matrices derived from the errors at different angles of attack have been used to correct standard ten-minute time series of field data resulting in a decrease in the measured turbulence strength by between 7 and 10%.

Published in	Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
Page(s)	52-59
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Flow Deformation, Atmospheric Boundary Layer, Wind Direction, Wind Elevation, Turbulence Strength

References

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[2]	L. Kristensen und O. Hansen, “Distance constant of the Riso cup anemometer”, Riso National Labotatory, Technical Report R-1320, 2002.
[3]	J. C. Wyngaard, “Cup, Propellor Van and Sonic Anemometers in Turbulence”, Annual Review Fliud Mechanics, pp. 13: 399-423, 1981.
[4]	S. Pindado, A. Sanz und A. Wery, “Deviation of cup and anemomoter calibration results with frequency”, Energies 5, pp. 683-701, 2012.
[5]	C. Kraan und W. A. Oost, “A new way of anemometer calibration and its application to asonic anemometer”, Journal of Atmospheric Oceanic technologies, Bd. 6, pp. 516-524, 1989.
[6]	J. Kaimal, J. Gaynor, H. Zimmerman und G. Zimmerman, “Minimizing flow distortion errors in sonic anemometer”, Boundary layer Meteorology 53 (1), pp. 103-115, 1990.
[7]	E. Vidal und Y. Yee, “Data colection of high resolution 3-D sonic anemometer measurements”, American meteorological society, pp. 1-5, 2003.
[8]	S. F. Zhang, J. C. Wyngaard, J. A. Businger und S. P. Oncley, “Response characteristics of the sonic anemometer”, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Bd. 3, pp. 315-323, 1986.
[9]	A. J. Dyer, “Flow distortionby supporting structures”, Boundary layer meteorology, Bd. 20, pp. 243-251, 1981.
[10]	J. C. Wyngaard, “The effect of probe induced flow distortion on atmospheric turbulence measurements”, Journal of applied meteorology, Bd. 20, pp. 784-794, 1981.
[11]	H. G. Norment, “Calculation of Wygaard distortion coefficints and turbulence ratios and influence of instrument induced wakes on accuracy”, Journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology, Bd. 9, pp. 505-519, 1992.
[12]	J. C. Kaimal und F. J. J, Atmospheric boundary layer flows, New York: Oxford Uninersity Press, 2004.
[13]	B. Perdesen, T. Perdesen, H. Klug, N. Borg, N. Kelley und J. Dahlberg, “Recomemned practices on wind turbine testing”, Research and development on wind energy conversion systems, Glasgow, 2003.
[14]	R. C. Baker, Flow Measurement Handbook: Industrial Designs, Operating Principles, Perfomance and Applications, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
[15]	T. G. Adolf, Thies Ultrasonic anemometer operating instructions, Göttingen, Germany: ThiesClima, 2014.
[16]	P. Li and Wang, A Nonequilibruim Thermodynamic Approach to Surface Energy Balance Closure, Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 47 issue 3, 2019.
[17]	J. M. Frank, W. Massman and B. E. Ewers, Underestimation of Heat flux due to vertical velocity errors in sonic anemometers, Agricultural and Forestry Meteorology, 171: 72-81, 2013.
[18]	J. Kochendorfer, J. Meyers, J. Frank, W. J. Massman, W. J., and M. W. Heuer. ‘How well can we measure vertical wind speed: Implications of fluxes of energy and mass’. Boundary Layer Meteolrology 53-103, 2014.

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APA Style

Jacob Oduogo, Henry Barasa. (2022). Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 11(2), 52-59. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

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ACS Style

Jacob Oduogo; Henry Barasa. Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2022, 11(2), 52-59. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

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AMA Style

Jacob Oduogo, Henry Barasa. Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements. J Energy Nat Resour. 2022;11(2):52-59. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14,
  author = {Jacob Oduogo and Henry Barasa},
  title = {Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements},
  journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {52-59},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20221102.14},
  abstract = {The sonic anemometer is widely recognized as a precise and accurate instrument for measuring and studying atmospheric wind speed and turbulence that works on the principle of measuring the difference in the transit time of acoustic pulses along a known path length. Desirable characteristics of the sonic anemometer include lack of moving parts, linear dynamic response, and good directional response. However, the sensor probes and support structures inevitably lead to a deformation of the flow field being examined resulting in transducer shadowing and flow distortion errors. An empirical method of determining the effects of flow distortion errors on measurements is utilized. While deviations in the horizontal wind are negligible, investigations clearly indicate the need for correction of raw data on vertical wind measurements. Simulations have been conducted using a synthetic time series to determine the impact of observed errors on turbulence, with indications that measurements have a dependence on the angle of attack. Using the series at angles of elevation varying between -12° and 12°, a deviation in turbulence by over 30% is observed for certain wind directions. Matrices derived from the errors at different angles of attack have been used to correct standard ten-minute time series of field data resulting in a decrease in the measured turbulence strength by between 7 and 10%.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements
AU  - Jacob Oduogo
AU  - Henry Barasa
Y1  - 2022/06/27
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
SP  - 52
EP  - 59
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7404
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
AB  - The sonic anemometer is widely recognized as a precise and accurate instrument for measuring and studying atmospheric wind speed and turbulence that works on the principle of measuring the difference in the transit time of acoustic pulses along a known path length. Desirable characteristics of the sonic anemometer include lack of moving parts, linear dynamic response, and good directional response. However, the sensor probes and support structures inevitably lead to a deformation of the flow field being examined resulting in transducer shadowing and flow distortion errors. An empirical method of determining the effects of flow distortion errors on measurements is utilized. While deviations in the horizontal wind are negligible, investigations clearly indicate the need for correction of raw data on vertical wind measurements. Simulations have been conducted using a synthetic time series to determine the impact of observed errors on turbulence, with indications that measurements have a dependence on the angle of attack. Using the series at angles of elevation varying between -12° and 12°, a deviation in turbulence by over 30% is observed for certain wind directions. Matrices derived from the errors at different angles of attack have been used to correct standard ten-minute time series of field data resulting in a decrease in the measured turbulence strength by between 7 and 10%.
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Jacob Oduogo

Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
Henry Barasa

Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

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APA Style

Jacob Oduogo, Henry Barasa. (2022). Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 11(2), 52-59. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

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ACS Style

Jacob Oduogo; Henry Barasa. Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2022, 11(2), 52-59. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

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AMA Style

Jacob Oduogo, Henry Barasa. Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements. J Energy Nat Resour. 2022;11(2):52-59. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14,
  author = {Jacob Oduogo and Henry Barasa},
  title = {Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements},
  journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {52-59},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20221102.14},
  abstract = {The sonic anemometer is widely recognized as a precise and accurate instrument for measuring and studying atmospheric wind speed and turbulence that works on the principle of measuring the difference in the transit time of acoustic pulses along a known path length. Desirable characteristics of the sonic anemometer include lack of moving parts, linear dynamic response, and good directional response. However, the sensor probes and support structures inevitably lead to a deformation of the flow field being examined resulting in transducer shadowing and flow distortion errors. An empirical method of determining the effects of flow distortion errors on measurements is utilized. While deviations in the horizontal wind are negligible, investigations clearly indicate the need for correction of raw data on vertical wind measurements. Simulations have been conducted using a synthetic time series to determine the impact of observed errors on turbulence, with indications that measurements have a dependence on the angle of attack. Using the series at angles of elevation varying between -12° and 12°, a deviation in turbulence by over 30% is observed for certain wind directions. Matrices derived from the errors at different angles of attack have been used to correct standard ten-minute time series of field data resulting in a decrease in the measured turbulence strength by between 7 and 10%.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Flow Distortion Effects of a Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Anemometer and Its Impact on Measurements
AU  - Jacob Oduogo
AU  - Henry Barasa
Y1  - 2022/06/27
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
SP  - 52
EP  - 59
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7404
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20221102.14
AB  - The sonic anemometer is widely recognized as a precise and accurate instrument for measuring and studying atmospheric wind speed and turbulence that works on the principle of measuring the difference in the transit time of acoustic pulses along a known path length. Desirable characteristics of the sonic anemometer include lack of moving parts, linear dynamic response, and good directional response. However, the sensor probes and support structures inevitably lead to a deformation of the flow field being examined resulting in transducer shadowing and flow distortion errors. An empirical method of determining the effects of flow distortion errors on measurements is utilized. While deviations in the horizontal wind are negligible, investigations clearly indicate the need for correction of raw data on vertical wind measurements. Simulations have been conducted using a synthetic time series to determine the impact of observed errors on turbulence, with indications that measurements have a dependence on the angle of attack. Using the series at angles of elevation varying between -12° and 12°, a deviation in turbulence by over 30% is observed for certain wind directions. Matrices derived from the errors at different angles of attack have been used to correct standard ten-minute time series of field data resulting in a decrease in the measured turbulence strength by between 7 and 10%.
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download