Title: Numerical simulation including model validation of wind flow in alpine terrain in eastern Switzerland

Authors: Hermann Knaus; Bruno Dürr

Addresses: Interstaatliche Hochschule für Technik Buchs NTB, Werdenbergstrasse 4, CH-9471 Buchs (SG), Switzerland ' Sunergy GmbH, Rosengasse 6, CH-9470 Buchs (SG), Switzerland

Abstract: A model for the simulation of wind flow in alpine terrain is presented. The model is based on the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations using a κ-ε turbulence model. Additional terms are implemented in the energy equation to describe dry adiabatic cooling in the atmosphere. The orography and flora of the Earth's surface are described by high resolution data from swisstopo. Boundary and initial conditions are based on mesoscale simulation data from the COSMO-2 weather model of the MeteoSwiss. Various nestings with different grid resolutions are used to simulate wind flow in the region between Vaduz and Landquart located in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, respectively. The model is validated with light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) and cup anemometer velocity measurements from three locations for a specific foehn weather situation. Finally, the model is used to get a first indication of potential locations for the placement of wind turbines.

Keywords: wind simulation; computational fluid dynamics; CFD; complex alpine terrain; unstructured body-fitted grid; mesh sensitivity; model validation; LIDAR; propeller anemometer; foehn; wind flow; Switzerland; Liechtenstein; RANS equations; turbulence modelling; dry adiabatic cooling; orography; flora; wind speed; velocity measurements; turbine locations; wind turbines; location selection; wind energy; wind power.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2015.069577

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2015 Vol.15 No.3, pp.168 - 176

Published online: 27 May 2015 *

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