Research Institute For Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction Of Airflow Over Complex Terrain Research Articles

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Investigation of Wind Turbine Nacelle Separation Accident over Complex Terrain in Japan

We have developed an unsteady and non-linear wind synopsis simulator called RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, COMputational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain) to simulate the airflow on a micro scale, i.e., a few tens of km or less. In RIAM-COMPACT, the large-eddy simulation (LES) has been adopted for turbulence modeling. LES is a technique in which the structures of relatively large eddies are directly simulated and smaller eddies are modeled using a sub-grid scale model. In the present study, we conducted numerical wind diagnoses for the Taikoyama Wind Farm nacelle separation accident in Japan. The simulation results suggest that all six wind turbines at Taikoyama Wind Farm are subject to significant influence from separated flow (terrain-induced turbulence) which is generated due to the topographic irregularities in the vicinity of the wind turbines. A proposal was also made on reconstruction of the wind farm.

Design Wind Speed Evaluation Technique in Wind Turbine Installation Point by Using the Meteorological and CFD Models

It is highly important in Japan to choose a good site for wind turbines, because the spatial distribution of wind speed is quite complicated over steep complex terrain. We have been developing the unsteady numerical model called the RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain). The RIAM-COMPACT is based on the LES (Large-Eddy Simulation). The object domain of the RIAM-COMPACT is from several m to several km, and can predict the airflow and gas diffusion over complex terrain with high precision. In the present paper, the design wind speed evaluation technique in wind turbine installation point by using the mesoscale meteorological model and RIAM-COMPACT CFD model was proposed. The design wind speed to be used for designing WTGs can be calculated by multiplying the ratio of the mean wind speed at the hub-height to the mean upper-air wind speed at the inflow boundary, i.e., the fractional increase of the mean hub-height wind speed, by the reduction ratio, R. The fractional increase of the mean hub-height wind speed was evaluated using the CFD simulation results. This method was proposed as Approach 1 in the present paper. A value of 61.9 m/s was obtained for the final design wind speed, Uh, in Approach 1. In the evaluation procedure of the design wind speed in Approach 2, neither the above-mentioned reduction rate, R, nor an upper-air wind speed of 1.7 Vo, where Vo is the reference wind speed, was used. Instead, the value of the maximum wind speed which was obtained from the typhoon simulation for each of the investigated wind directions was adopted. When the design wind speed was evaluated using the 50-year recurrence value, the design wind speed was 48.3 m/s. When a somewhat conservative safety factor was applied, that is, when the 100 year recurrence value was used instead, the design wind speed was 52.9 m/s.

High-Resolution LES of Terrain-Induced Turbulence around Wind Turbine Generators by Using Turbulent Inflow Boundary Conditions

We have developed an LES (Large-Eddy Simulation) code called RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain). The analysis do-main of this numerical model extends from several meters to several kilometers. The model is able to predict airflow over complex terrain with high accuracy and is also now able to estimate the annual power output of wind turbine generators with the use of field observation data. In the present study, a numerical simulation of turbulent airflow over an existing wind farm was performed using RIAM-COMPACT and high-resolution elevation data. Based on the simulation results, suitable and unsuitable locations for the operation of WTGs (Wind Turbine Generators) were identified. The latter location was subject to the influence of turbulence induced by small topographical variations just upwind of the WTG location.

New Evaluation Technique for WTG Design Wind Speed Using a CFD‐Model‐Based Unsteady Flow Simulation with Wind Direction Changes

Because a significant portion of the topography in Japan is characterized by steep, complex terrain, which results in a complex spatial distribution of wind speed, great care is necessary for selecting a site for the construction of wind turbine generators (WTG). We have developed a CFD model for unsteady flow called RIAM‐COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, computational prediction of airflow over complex terrain). The RIAM‐COMPACT CFD model is based on large eddy simulation (LES). The computational domain of RIAM‐COMPACT can extend from several meters to several kilometers, and RIAM‐COMPACT can predict airflow and gas diffusion over complex terrain with high accuracy. The present paper proposes a technique for evaluating the deployment location of a WTG. The proposed technique employs the RIAM‐COMPACT CFD model and simulates a continuous wind direction change over 360 degrees.

一様流中に置かれた急峻な単純地形まわりの気流性状の評価―３次元孤立峰モデルの場合―

The purpose of this research is to construct a database of a non-stratified airflow past a steep simple terrain under an imposition of a uniform flow, and, in addition, is to do the accuracy inspection of the numerical model under development at present. This numerical model is referred to as the RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain), and is for the purpose of the prediction of airflow over complex terrain with several m to several km. This paper describes the experimental and numerical study of a non-stratified airflow past a three-dimensional isolated-hill in a uniform flow as the second phase. The Reynolds number, based on the uniform flow and the height of the hill, is about 10 4 . Airflows around the hill include the unsteady vortex shedding. Attention is focused on airflow characteristics in a wake region. For this purpose, the velocity components in the streamwise direction were measured with a SFP (Split-Film Probe) in the wind tunnel experiment. In addition, the flow visualization was performed by using the smoke-wire technique. Through comparison of the experimental and numerical results, they showed a good agreement. The accuracy of both of the wind tunnel experiment by the SFP and also numerical simulation by the RIAM-COMPACT were confirmed as the result.

Application of LES Technique to Diagnosis of Wind Farm by Using High Resolution Elevation Data

We are developing the numerical model called the RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain). The object domain of this numerical model is from several m to several km, and can predict the airflow and the gas diffusion over complex terrain with high precision. The RIAM-COMPACT has already been marketed by certain tie-up companies. The estimation of the annual electrical power output is also possible now based on the field observation data. In the present study, wind simulation of an actual wind farm was executed using the high resolution elevation data. As a result, an appropriate point and an inappropriate point for locating a wind turbine generator were shown based on the numerical results obtained. This cause was found to be a topographical irregularity in front of the wind turbine generator.

Evaluation on Wind Characteristics around a Steep Simple Terrain in a Uniform Flow

The purpose of this research is to construct a database of a non-stratified airflow past a steep simple terrain under an imposition of a uniform flow, and, in addition, is to do the accuracy inspection of the numerical model under development at present. This numerical model is referred to as the RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain), and is for the purpose of the prediction of airflow over complex terrain with several m to several km. This paper describes the experimental and numerical study of a non-stratified airflow past a two-dimensional ridge in a uniform flow as the first phase. The Reynolds number, based on the uniform flow and the height of the ridge, is about 104. Airflows around the ridge include the unsteady vortex shedding. Attention is focused on airflow characteristics in a wake region. For this purpose, the velocity components in the streamwise direction were measured with a SFP (Split-Film Probe) in the wind tunnel experiment. In addition, the flow visualization was performed by using the smoke-wire technique. Through comparison of the experimental and numerical results, they showed a good agreement. The accuracy of both of the wind tunnel experiment by the SFP and also numerical simulation by the RIAM-COMPACT were confirmed as the result.

A214 パッシブ粒子追跡法による三宅島火山ガス挙動の可視化

In order to develop an overall efficient and accurate model of simulating an unsteady three-dimensional airflow over complex terrain with characteristic length scales of the order of kilometers, we have been examining the large-eddy simulation (LES) technique using a finite-difference method (FDM). These LES codes are referred to as the RIAM-COMPACT (Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Computational Prediction of Airflow over Complex Terrain), and are based on two grid systems and corresponding variable arrangement: one is an orthogonal staggered grid; the other is a generalized curvilinear collocated grid. In this paper, using the RIAM-COMPACT with a generalized curvilinear collocated grid, we have performed the calculations of stably stratified airflows over an isolated steep hill. A strong wind area caused by the lee wave was clearly seen near the first trough behind the hill. Next, we made the calculations of stably stratified airflows over Mt. Miyake. Particularly, the behavior of the passive particles from the top of Mt. Miyake was investigated.