CFD Interface

This module executes an export of the data, which is needed for calculations offered by various third party CFD codes. The CFD codes are typically used to provide supplementary estimates on expected annual energy yield, the turbulences generated by the terrain or an analysis of extreme wind conditions. CFD calculations are in general applied for sites with complex orography. In order to execute a data export, measured wind data must be available within the calculation area. This module prepares data for a CFD analysis by extracting and saving the wind data, orography and roughness in an export format. These data are then imported into the 3rd party CFD code and subsequently a CFD calculation is carried out. Typically, the CFD codes are purchased from or operated by 3rd party suppliers. When the CFD analysis is finalized, the results from the analysis may be imported into the post-processing tool in WindPRO for a detailed comparison with results from other flow models, like the WAsP model. When the results have been validated, then any potential CFD wind resource maps may be imported into the PARK module of WindPRO in order to finalize a calculation of the annual energy yield (here a valid license to the PARK module is required). The WindPRO CFD Interface module is an export interface that provides data to various 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. CFD models are used for calculating the turbulent wind flow over the terrain by solving the flow equations in a finite number of grid nodes. Typically, in each of these nodes a set of direction changes and speed up factors are derived. The calculated direction changes and speedup data may be related to similar data at the position of the meteorological mast, enabling the CFD software to generate a new wind statistics for each node and potentially to generate a wind resource map. Also other detailed flow results like extreme winds or terrain generated turbulences may be derived from the CFD calculation – supporting the user in the choice of a suitable wind turbine for the site of consideration. Currently more CFD codes, like the Norwegian WindSim model and French Meteodyn model are known to support the export format provided by the WindPRO CFD Interface module. Please note that the objects are entered in the WindPRO module BASIS. Please read the description of the WindPRO module BASIS for further details.

Site data object (calculation area and terrain description):
The site data object specifies the limits on the calculation area. You must also specify roughness and orography (see also below). Please note that any wind statistic specified here is not used.

Terrain description (roughness and orography):
The terrain is described by: A roughness classification covering the whole calculation area. The roughness description may be extracted from a line object (roughness lines) or an area object (roughness areas). Description on hills/mountains - given as a digital map of height contour lines (orography) - must also cover the whole calculation area.

Meteo object (meteorological data):
Wind data are specified in the METEO object either as time series, as a joint wind distribution or as a Weibull table. The export always uses the joint wind distribution, so other data are transferred into this format. At least one METEO object must be available within the calculation area.

Note on wind turbines:
Positions of WTGs are not automatically included in the export files. If necessary, you may choose to manually include a BASIS report with the export files, as well as to output turbine data - such as power curves - from our wind turbine catalogue (WindCat).

Note on local obstacles: With the current implementation of the CFD Interface module, the local obstacle objects are not used. It may be possible to include the obstacles in the CFD analysis, please contact EMD International A/S or your CFD model supplier for further details. In contrast to the ATLAS and WAsP Interface modules, which both have limitations when the terrain orography gets complex, the CFD-approach may be executed without these constraints. This module supports the CFD analysis with its pre- and post processing facilities and you still have the advantage of a unique graphic user interface with all data stored within a familiar environment.



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