Understanding Electromagnetic Scattering from Wind Farms

目的：虽然风力发电正在成为替代能源的重要来源，但风力发电场对现有雷达系统的不利影响引起了严重关注。 本研究的目的是深入了解风电场的电磁散射。我们的方法包括：（i）开发模拟技术以预测和分析风电场的动态雷达特征，（ii）开发雷达设施和测量技术以从风电场获取比例模型和现场数据，以及（iii）利用知识进行干扰缓解和涡轮机监测应用。 智力优势：拟议的研究将导致深入了解大型风电场的动态雷达信号。 在此过程中，将开发有效的模拟和测量技术来研究旋转涡轮机叶片的散射。 这些技术将适用于更广泛的一类问题，其中感兴趣的主要雷达特征在于目标结构变化如何在随时间变化的雷达回波中表现出来。 例子包括跟踪人类活动和大型建筑物和桥梁的结构监测。 更广泛的影响：拟议的研究将导致风力发电与现有雷达基础设施的更好整合。 研究结果将导致干扰缓解和结构监测技术的技术进步。 开发的雷达测量设施将提供给学术研究人员，并应大大加强雷达的研究和教育基础设施。 计划开展一些外联活动，以激励K-12学生从事科学和工程职业。

Objective: While wind power is becoming an important source of alternative energy, the adverse effect of wind farms on existing radar systems is raising serious concerns. The objective of this research is to gain an in-depth understanding of electromagnetic scattering from wind farms. Our approach entails: (i) developing simulation techniques to predict and analyze dynamic radar signatures of wind farms, (ii) developing radar facility and measurement techniques to acquire scaled model and in-situ data from wind farms, and (iii) exploiting the knowledge for interference mitigation and turbine monitoring applications. Intellectual Merit: The proposed research will lead to an in-depth understanding of the dynamic radar signatures of large wind farms. In the process, efficient simulation and measurement techniques will be developed to study the scattering from rotating turbine blades. These techniques will be applicable to a much wider class of problems where the main radar features of interest lie in how target structural changes are manifested in the time-varying radar returns. Examples include tracking of human activities and structural monitoring of large buildings and bridges. Broader Impact: The proposed research will result in a better integration of wind power with existing radar infrastructures. The research findings will lead to technology advancement in interference mitigation and structural monitoring techniques. The developed radar measurement facility will be made available to academic researchers, and should significantly bolster the research and education infrastructure in radar. A number of outreach activities are planned to inspire K-12 students to pursue careers in science and engineering.