Microscale CFD Simulations of a Wind Energy Test Site in the Swabian Alps with Mesoscale Based Inflow Data

The current study describes analyses of the WINSENT wind energy test site located in complex terrain in Southern Germany by highly resolved numerical simulations. The resolved atmospheric turbulence is simulated with Delayed Detached Eddy Simulations by the flow solver FLOWer without consideration of the research wind turbines.

The mean inflow and wind direction of the analysed time period is provided by precursor simulations of project partners. The simulation model chain consists of three codes with different time scales and resolutions. The model chain provides a data transfer from mesoscale WRF simulations to OpenFOAM. As a next step OpenFOAM provides inflow data in the valley of the terrain site for the present FLOWer simulations, the code with the highest resolution in space and time. The mean velocity field provided by OpenFOAM is superimposed with fluctuations that are based on measurements to obtain the small turbulent scales within the FLOWer simulations, which the previous tools of the model chain can not resolve. Comparisons with the two already installed met masts clarify that the current FLOWer simulations provide an adequate agreement with measured data. ... mehrThe results are verified with the application of a second simulation, in which a homogeneous velocity profile is superimposed with turbulence. Thus, comparisons with measured data showed that the benefit of using the inflow data of this model chain is especially evident near the ground.