Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone

Using the method based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, two kinds of data can be obtained: the digital elevation model (DEM) for the digital expression of terrain, and the digital surface model (DSM) for the digital expression of the surface of the ground, including trees. In this research,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Takanori Uchida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3766
_version_ 1818034648534482944
author Takanori Uchida
author_facet Takanori Uchida
author_sort Takanori Uchida
collection DOAJ
description Using the method based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, two kinds of data can be obtained: the digital elevation model (DEM) for the digital expression of terrain, and the digital surface model (DSM) for the digital expression of the surface of the ground, including trees. In this research, a 3D topography model with a horizontal spatial resolution of 1 m was reproduced using DEM. In addition, using the differences between the DEM and DSM data, we were able to obtain further detailed information, such as the heights of trees covering the surface of the ground and their spatial distribution. Therefore, the surface roughness model and the UAV imagery data were directly linked. Based on the above data as input data, a high-resolution 3D numerical flow simulation was conducted. By using the numerical results obtained, we discussed the effect of the existence of surface roughness on the wind speed at the height of the hub of the wind turbine. We also discussed the effect of the differences in the spatial resolution in the horizontal direction of the computational grid on the reproductive precision of terrain-induced turbulence. As a result, the existence and the vortex structure of terrain-induced turbulence occurring near the target wind turbine was clearly revealed. It was shown that a horizontal grid resolution of about 5 m was required to reproduce terrain-induced turbulence formed from topography with an altitude of about 127 m. By the simulation using the surface roughness model, turbulence intensity higher than class A in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) turbulence category was confirmed at the present study site, as well as the measured data.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T06:42:30Z
format Article
id doaj.art-699d0fc75f554a7ab6115cb8d85424c9
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1073
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T06:42:30Z
publishDate 2019-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj.art-699d0fc75f554a7ab6115cb8d85424c92022-12-22T01:58:44ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-10-011219376610.3390/en12193766en12193766Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a DroneTakanori Uchida0Research Institute for Applied Mechanics (RIAM), Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, JapanUsing the method based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, two kinds of data can be obtained: the digital elevation model (DEM) for the digital expression of terrain, and the digital surface model (DSM) for the digital expression of the surface of the ground, including trees. In this research, a 3D topography model with a horizontal spatial resolution of 1 m was reproduced using DEM. In addition, using the differences between the DEM and DSM data, we were able to obtain further detailed information, such as the heights of trees covering the surface of the ground and their spatial distribution. Therefore, the surface roughness model and the UAV imagery data were directly linked. Based on the above data as input data, a high-resolution 3D numerical flow simulation was conducted. By using the numerical results obtained, we discussed the effect of the existence of surface roughness on the wind speed at the height of the hub of the wind turbine. We also discussed the effect of the differences in the spatial resolution in the horizontal direction of the computational grid on the reproductive precision of terrain-induced turbulence. As a result, the existence and the vortex structure of terrain-induced turbulence occurring near the target wind turbine was clearly revealed. It was shown that a horizontal grid resolution of about 5 m was required to reproduce terrain-induced turbulence formed from topography with an altitude of about 127 m. By the simulation using the surface roughness model, turbulence intensity higher than class A in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) turbulence category was confirmed at the present study site, as well as the measured data.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3766large-eddy simulation (les)terrain-induced turbulencecomplex terraindrone
spellingShingle Takanori Uchida
Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone
Energies
large-eddy simulation (les)
terrain-induced turbulence
complex terrain
drone
title Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone
title_full Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone
title_fullStr Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone
title_short Numerical Investigation of Terrain-Induced Turbulence in Complex Terrain Using High-Resolution Elevation Data and Surface Roughness Data Constructed with a Drone
title_sort numerical investigation of terrain induced turbulence in complex terrain using high resolution elevation data and surface roughness data constructed with a drone
topic large-eddy simulation (les)
terrain-induced turbulence
complex terrain
drone
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/19/3766
work_keys_str_mv AT takanoriuchida numericalinvestigationofterraininducedturbulenceincomplexterrainusinghighresolutionelevationdataandsurfaceroughnessdataconstructedwithadrone