Ansh Patel
PhD
Characterization of operating gusts and turbulence for large wind turbines
Host Organisation
Technical University of Denmark
Company
Vestas
Project Description
As wind turbines get taller, they will operate in a part of the atmosphere wherein our knowledge is currently limited. So, this project aims to shed more light on how the wind behaves at these heights. For example, I will study how fluctuations in wind are correlated to each other over hundreds of meters and try to model gusts that can significantly reduce the lifetime of a wind turbine.
Supervisors
Prof. Jakob Mann
Dr. Mikael Sjöholm
Dr. Kasper Zinck
Ms. Karunya Raj
Background
I was born and raised in Mumbai (India), a city with a population of more than 18million! After finishing my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Mumbai, I chose to move to the Netherlands to study Sustainable Energy Technology at TU Delft. During the last year of my masters, I worked as an intern at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy where I also did my master’s thesis on high fidelity simulations of flow over wind farms.
When I’m not looking at wind data on a computer screen, I like to play the guitar, ride my bike or do some training at the gym.
I believe that a person can lead a satisfying and purposeful life when he or she applies themselves to something that lies at the intersection of their interests and is simultaneously beneficial to society. I found wind energy to be the answer to this slighly philosophical question. It is an application of mathematics and physics which I have found to be “challenging yet fun” pursuits. Wind energy is also a solution to the ever-increasing threat of climate change. So, when I was presented with this wonderful opportunity to aid in the progress of wind energy, I did not have to think twice.