Research
Since the 1980s, Otech has been a major participant in the research and development of testing and calibration standards for anemometers used in the wind energy industry. One project in which Otech played a significant role was the performance analysis of the NRG #40 cup anemometer. This project was funded by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and headed by the Meteorological Standards Institute (MSI). The results from Otech were a major contribution in the study. This project resulted in a widely accepted published transfer function for the NRG #40. Otech also participated in inter-laboratory comparison testing of the Round Robin Anemometers designated RR1 and RR2, which was led by MSI. These instruments were R.M. Young Propeller Anemometers which were sent to various test labs not only in the U.S. but also in Europe and Asia. The purpose of this inter-laboratory comparison was to develop requirements that test facilities must meet in order to be a quality laboratory for calibrating anemometers. A secondary purpose was to develop and monitor a consensus transfer function for the Round Robin Anemometers. Tests done by Otech were one of the few accepted in determining the final consensus transfer function. Today, Otech continues to participate in a current Round Robin Anemometer project, designated RR3, which is managed by Michael Sturgeon, retired from the National Weather Service (NWS). The RR3 project uses the same instrument used in the RR2 inter-laboratory comparisons. Otech is also involved in various other research activities such as educational outreach projects with the California Wind Energy Collaborative (CWEC) in University of California, Davis. Each year Otech has provided lecture seminars for the Small Wind Energy Systems Course hosted by CWEC. Research is also done on anemometer calibration and measurement uncertainty, where Otech has presented papers at Windpower conferences held by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Below are some of the presentations and technical papers contributed by Otech.
Presentations:
Coquilla, R., A. Havner, and J. Obermeier (2010), Verification Testing of Sonic Anemometer Wind Speed Measurements for Wind Energy Applications, poster presentation at AWEA Windpower 2010. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. (2010), Expanded Anemometer Calibration Uncertainty, poster presentation at EWEC 2010. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. (2010), Anemometer Calibration for Wind Energy Applications, podium presentation at Measurement Science Conference 2010. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. (2009), Review of Anemometer Calibration Standards, poster presentation at CanWEA 2009. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. and J. Obermeier (2008), Calibration Uncertainty Comparisons Between Various Anemometers, poster presentation at AWEA Windpower 2008. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. and J. Obermeier (2008), Calibration Speed Range for Rotating Anemometers Used in Wind Energy Applications, podium presentation at AIAA-ASME Symposium 2008. Download PDF
Coquilla, R., J. Obermeier, and B.R. White (2007), Anemometer Calibration Uncertainty, podium presentation at AWEA Windpower 2007. Download PDF
Obermeier, J. and R. Coquilla (2005), Considerations in Anemometer Calibration, podium presentation at AWEA Symposium 2005. Download PDF
Technical Papers:
Coquilla, R., A. Havner, and J. Obermeier (2010), Verification Testing of Sonic Anemometer Wind Speed Measurements for Wind Energy Applications, conference paper for AWEA Windpower 2010. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. (2010), Expanded Anemometer Calibration Uncertainty, conference paper for EWEC 2010. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. (2010), Anemometer Calibration for Wind Energy Applications, conference paper for Measurement Science Conference 2010. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. (2009), Review of Anemometer Calibration Standards, conference paper for CanWEA 2009. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. and J. Obermeier (2008), Calibration Uncertainty Comparisons Between Various Anemometers, conference paper for AWEA Windpower 2008. Download PDF
Coquilla, R. and J. Obermeier (2008), Calibration Speed Range for Rotating Anemometers used in Wind Energy Applications, conference paper for AIAA-ASME Symposium 2008. Download PDF
Coquilla, R., J. Obermeier, and B.R. White (2007), Calibration Procedures and Uncertainty in Wind Power Anemometers, Wind Engineering v.31, no.5 Download PDF
Coquilla, R., J. Obermeier, and B.R. White (2007), Anemometer Calibration Uncertainty, conference paper for AWEA Windpower 2007 Download PDF
