Padovani Ginies, J. (2012). B.Sc. (Hons) Dissertation. Simulating atmospheric flow for wind energy applications with WRF-LES.

Supervisor: Dr N. Aquilina

Abstract

Forecasts of wind flows at high spatial resolution can enable users to site wind turbines in optimal locations, to schedule maintenance on wind energy facilities, and to define design criteria for next-generation turbines. This array of research implies that an appropriate forecasting tool must be able to account for mesoscale processes as well as local-scale circulations, and the microscale effects of atmospheric stability. The Weather and Research Forecasting model (WRF), is appropriate for predicting synoptic and mesoscale phenomena. With grid spacings of less than 1 km (as is often required for wind energy applications), a fundamental problems arises associated with modelling the different above mentioned scales of motion. This dissertation project will use nested simulations to predict wind flows at turbine height using the improved WRF-LES (Large Eddy Simulation) configuration which captures both mesoscale processes and can account for a varying atmospheric stability.