An efficiency evaluation of radar‐based obstruction lights controlling at a wind turbine test site. Issue 4 (16th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jørgensen, Lasse Due; Tambo, Torben; Xydis, George
• Is Part Of: Wind energy. Volume 22:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 576
• Page End: 586
• Publication Date: 2019-01-16
• Subjects: light pollution reduction -- obstruction light controlling -- radar track classification -- radar‐based bird identification -- wind farm radar surveillance; Wind power -- Periodicals; 621.312136
• DOI: 10.1002/we.2308
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1095-4244

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, an obstruction lights controlling (OLC) system based on a Terma SCANTER 5000 radar has been installed at a test centre for large wind turbines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the OLC system and to improve this efficiency by introducing new technological features. Once the first assessment had been carried out, new software with improved tracking functionalities was installed to the radar. With the new software, a second assessment was made to compare the new performance to the old one. To analyse the tracks, geographic information system (GIS) tools have been used. A new MATLAB script was developed to automate the assessment as well as to gather data on the tracks. These data sets were used to improve the system performance by introducing a radar cross section (RCS)/speed filter. The outcome of the study is a filter that can be implemented on the radar system to improve the efficiency of the system and reduce the time that obstruction lights need to be on for by 62.59%, without compromising the integrity of the system.