Coupled on-site measurement/CFD based approach for high-resolution wind resource assessment over complex terrains

Abstract Wind resource assessment is essential for development of wind energy, particularly in the regions with complex terrains. This study proposes a coupled on-site measurement/CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) based approach to reproduce the spatial variability of wind speed for a region with complex terrain conditions. A complete framework is presented for wind resource assessment, which involves on-site measurement, CFD simulations and statistical analysis. Next, a case study on wind resource assessment for an offshore island with complex terrain features where is equipped with anemometers for long-term wind measurement is performed using the developed approach. The microscale effects in the assessment region are justified from CFD simulations with modified RNG k – e model. A cross-validation of the numerical simulations against wind tunnel experimental results and on-site measurements indicates a good agreement. Consequently, a detailed wind resource map of the offshore island is attained through the wind data from a single measurement site combined with the CFD simulations, which is of great use for future wind farm siting and turbine micro-siting. The coupled on-site measurement/CFD based approach is expected to enable the efficient and reliable wind resource assessment and facilitate the wind energy development in the areas with complex terrain conditions.

[1]  Wei Yu,et al.  Wind Energy Simulation Toolkit (WEST): A Wind Mapping System for Use by the Wind-Energy Industry , 2006 .

[2]  Alessandro Parente,et al.  RANS simulation of ABL flow over complex terrains applying an enhanced k-ε model and wall function formulation , 2012 .

[3]  A computational fluid dynamics approach to wind prospecting: Lessons from the U.S. Appalachian region , 2014 .

[4]  Weeratunge Malalasekera,et al.  An introduction to computational fluid dynamics - the finite volume method , 2007 .

[5]  V. C. Patel,et al.  Numerical simulation of wind flow over hilly terrain , 2000 .

[6]  Byungik Chang,et al.  Review of Computer-Aided Numerical Simulation in Wind Energy , 2013 .

[7]  Michael C. Brower,et al.  Evaluation of four numerical wind flow models for wind resource mapping , 2014 .

[8]  Takanori Uchida,et al.  Micro-siting technique for wind turbine generator by using large-eddy simulation , 2006 .

[9]  Xinyang Jin,et al.  New inflow boundary conditions for modelling the neutral equilibrium atmospheric boundary layer in computational wind engineering , 2009 .

[10]  Joseph P. Hennessey.  Some Aspects of Wind Power Statistics , 1977 .

[11]  Nicolas G. Wright,et al.  On the use of the k–ε model in commercial CFD software to model the neutral atmospheric boundary layer , 2007 .

[12]  Qiusheng Li,et al.  Statistical analysis of wind characteristics and wind energy potential in Hong Kong , 2015 .

[13]  T. Stathopoulos,et al.  CFD simulation of the atmospheric boundary layer: wall function problems , 2007 .

[14]  L. Landberg,et al.  Modelling the Wind Climate of Ireland , 1997 .

[15]  N. Mortensen,et al.  The numerical wind atlas - the KAMM/WAsP method , 2001 .

[16]  David Hanslian,et al.  Combining the VAS 3D interpolation method and Wind Atlas methodology to produce a high-resolution wind resource map for the Czech Republic , 2015 .

[17]  J. A. Carta,et al.  A review of wind speed probability distributions used in wind energy analysis: Case studies in the Canary Islands , 2009 .

[18]  J. Mann,et al.  Conically scanning lidar error in complex terrain , 2009 .

[19]  Pak Wai Chan,et al.  Standardization of raw wind speed data under complex terrain conditions: A data-driven scheme , 2014 .

[20]  S. Parsa,et al.  Wind power statistics and an evaluation of wind energy density , 1995 .

[21]  Fotini Katopodes Chow,et al.  Investigation of model parameters for high-resolution wind energy forecasting: Case studies over simple and complex terrain , 2014 .

[22]  Peter Richards,et al.  Appropriate boundary conditions for computational wind engineering models revisited , 2011 .

[23]  J. Walmsley,et al.  A simple model of neutrally stratified boundary-layer flow over complex terrain with surface roughness modulations (MS3DJH/3R) , 1986 .

[24]  Charlotte Bay Hasager,et al.  Wind atlas for Egypt: Measurements, micro- and mesoscale modelling , 2006 .

[25]  Timothy A. Reinhold,et al.  Hurricane Andrew's Landfall in South Florida. Part I: Standardizing Measurements for Documentation of Surface Wind Fields , 1996 .

[26]  A. Rocha,et al.  Wind resource modelling in complex terrain using different mesoscale–microscale coupling techniques , 2013 .

[27]  S. Ott,et al.  A Mixed Spectral-Integration Model for Neutral Mean Wind Flow Over Hills , 2008 .

[28]  P. Richards,et al.  Appropriate boundary conditions for computational wind engineering models using the k-ε turbulence model , 1993 .

[29]  A. Messac,et al.  A Multivariate and Multimodal Wind Distribution model , 2013 .

[30]  Bert Blocken,et al.  CFD evaluation of wind speed conditions in passages between parallel buildings : effect of wall-function roughness modifications for the atmospheric boundary layer flow , 2007 .

[31]  K. Ayotte.  Computational modelling for wind energy assessment , 2008 .

[32]  K. Ayotte,et al.  Observations of Boundary-Layer Wind-Tunnel Flow over Isolated Ridges of Varying Steepness and Roughness , 2004 .

[33]  Luís Frölén Ribeiro,et al.  Linear and nonlinear models in wind resource assessment and wind turbine micro-siting in complex terrain , 2008 .

[34]  Jörg Franke,et al.  The COST 732 Best Practice Guideline for CFD simulation of flows in the urban environment: a summary , 2011 .

[35]  Muyiwa S. Adaramola,et al.  Assessment of Wind Power Generation Along the Coast of Ghana , 2014 .

[36]  J. Sørensen,et al.  Large-eddy simulation of atmospheric flow over complex terrain , 2007 .

[37]  Alessandro Parente,et al.  A Comprehensive Modelling Approach for the Neutral Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Consistent Inflow Conditions, Wall Function and Turbulence Model , 2011 .

[38]  Hongxing Yang,et al.  Wind power potential and characteristic analysis of the Pearl River Delta region, China , 2006 .

[39]  J. Palma,et al.  Simulation of the Askervein Flow. Part 1: Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes Equations (k∈ Turbulence Model) , 2003 .

[40]  Qiusheng Li,et al.  RANS simulation of neutral atmospheric boundary layer flows over complex terrain by proper imposition of boundary conditions and modification on the k-ε model , 2016, Environmental Fluid Mechanics.

[41]  S Craine,et al.  Wind Resource Atlas for Southern Australia , 2004 .

[42]  Hans Ejsing Jørgensen,et al.  On the theory of SODAR measurement techniques (final reporting on WP1, EU WISE project NNE5-2001-297) , 2003 .

[43]  P. Vickery,et al.  Toward Objective, Standardized Intensity Estimates from Surface Wind Speed Observations , 2010 .

[44]  Spyros G. Voutsinas,et al.  Implementation Issues in 3D Wind Flow Predictions Over Complex Terrain , 2006 .