Detached Eddy Simulations of the local Atmospheric Flow Field within a Forested Wind Energy Test Site located in Complex Terrain

Abstract

Within a current project a wind energy test site will be installed in complex terrain in Southern Germany. On such complex orographies various inflow conditions influence the power gain and the blade loads of wind turbines. For example, forest vegetation modifies the wind direction and velocity, in addition to inclination angles caused by the complex escarpment. The scope of the present work is to characterize the influence of a forested area in complex topographies on the local flow field by means of CFD. The results will be compared to inflow conditions of wind turbines in complex terrain without consideration of forests in a wind tunnel model. Objective is to analyze the degree of influence, a forested hill introduces to the flow field on top of the terrain near the designated wind turbine position and to observe flow separation due to the vegetation. To clarify the results, simulations of flows within forests in flat terrain will be shown and compared to numerical results and measurements from literature.