This article provides 10 practical tips for which levers to work with for continuous accuracy improvement.
Maximizing Accuracy in Wind Resource Assessment with WindSim software (desktop or cloud)
In the wind energy industry, accuracy in wind resource assessment is critical to optimizing turbine placement and predicting energy yields. Achieving high precision can lead to more accurate financial estimates and reduced risk. WindSim’s Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling provides industry-leading tools to enhance accuracy. Here are some key levers within WindSim software (both the desktop version as well as the clud-based WindSim Accelerator) that can help improve the precision of your wind resource assessments:
1. Model Size: Increasing the number of cells in the simulation resolution enhances detail. Cloud computing, notably WindSim Accelerator, simplifies the scaling process through increased access to computing resources, providing easier access to larger, more complex models.
2. Elevation, Roughness Data, and Canopy/Forest Height: Automatic access to standardized pre-processed data ensures high-resolution topographical inputs, which are vital for precision modeling. WindSim’s use of the ArcGIS databased offered by ESRI, offers an extensive data suite.3. 36 Sectors: Adding more sectors in the wind rose increases model accuracy. WindSim is capable of running 36 sectors, offering robust sector analysis.
4. Sensitivity Studies: The ability to compare different resolutions (such as 10m versus lower) and physical models is crucial for assessing model sensitivity and understanding the impact of different variables on overall results.
5. Convergence Criteria: Tighter convergence criteria lead to more precise solutions. WindSim allows for tighter and more refined convergence for better accuracy.
6. Nesting: Transitioning from low to high resolution by nesting ensures a grid independent solution, improving model reliability. Competitors lack this nesting ability, giving WindSim a distinct advantage.
7. Forest Modeling: Forests have a significant impact on wind flow and the WindSim forest model application ensures a more accurate reflection of the land cover.
8. Stability: Combining stability assessments with real-time measurement data helps WindSim deliver a unique, highly accurate wind resource evaluation that other CFD providers may not offer.
9. Turbulence Modeling: WindSim’s two-equation turbulence model is superior to other one-equation models, offering greater precision in simulating turbulent flow conditions.
10. Flow Model Validator: WindSim provides various validation methods, such as shear inspection and cross-prediction errors through horizontal extrapolation, which enhances the reliability of predictions.
The outcome of experimenting with these 10 levers is a significantly improved understanding and prediction of wind resources, leading to more accurate wind farm designs and optimized energy production. By adjusting factors such as model size, data resolution, convergence criteria, and turbulence modeling, the simulations become more precise, reflecting real-world conditions more closely.
This experimentation is crucial because it directly affects how well a wind farm can predict energy yields, optimize turbine placement, and account for complex terrain, forestation, and atmospheric stability. More accurate assessments reduce the risk of over- or underestimating wind speeds, ensuring the financial and operational success of wind projects. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling, combined with cloud scaling (WindSim Accelerator), provides the flexibility to run multiple scenarios quickly and with higher resolutions, enabling users to fine-tune their models for maximum accuracy. In essence, refining these levers leads to more reliable data, reduced uncertainty, and more effective wind farm development.
Why CFD Matters in Wind Resource Assessment
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) allows for the modeling of all terrain types, objects and obstacles, and atmospheric conditions, which are key to achieving accurate wind flow predictions. WindSim’s advanced CFD capabilities provide high-resolution insights, ensuring the wind farm’s performance can be predicted more reliably.
Why Cloud Matters in WindSim
WindSim Accelerator leverages cloud computing, allowing users to easily increase model size and resolution. The cloud also speeds up simulations, enabling multiple high-resolution models to run in parallel, which leads to quicker decision-making and more accurate assessments. This boost in speed and computational power directly translates to a more thorough understanding of wind resources.