Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model
Mesoscale numerical weather prediction models usually provide information regarding environmental parameters near urban areas at a spatial resolution of the order of thousands or hundreds of meters, at best. If detailed information is required at the building scale, an urban-scale model is necessary...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/18/5624 |
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| author | Demetri Bouris Athanasios G. Triantafyllou Athina Krestou Elena Leivaditou John Skordas Efstathios Konstantinidis Anastasios Kopanidis Qing Wang |
| author_facet | Demetri Bouris Athanasios G. Triantafyllou Athina Krestou Elena Leivaditou John Skordas Efstathios Konstantinidis Anastasios Kopanidis Qing Wang |
| author_sort | Demetri Bouris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mesoscale numerical weather prediction models usually provide information regarding environmental parameters near urban areas at a spatial resolution of the order of thousands or hundreds of meters, at best. If detailed information is required at the building scale, an urban-scale model is necessary. Proper definition of the boundary conditions for the urban-scale simulation is very demanding in terms of its compatibility with environmental conditions and numerical modeling. Here, steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) microscale simulations of the wind and thermal environment are performed over an urban area of Kozani, Greece, using both the k-ε and k-ω SST turbulence models. For the boundary conditions, instead of interpolating vertical profiles from the mesoscale solution, which is obtained with the atmospheric pollution model (TAPM), a novel approach is proposed, relying on previously developed analytic expressions, based on the Monin Obuhkov similarity theory, and one-way coupling with minimal information from mesoscale indices (V<sub>y</sub> = 10 m, T<sub>y</sub> = 100 m, L<sub>*</sub>). The extra computational cost is negligible compared to direct interpolation from mesoscale data, and the methodology provides design phase flexibility, allowing for the representation of discrete urban-scale atmospheric conditions, as defined by the mesoscale indices. The results compared favorably with the common interpolation practice and with the following measurements obtained for the current study: SODAR for vertical profiles of wind speed and a meteorological temperature profiler for temperature. The significance of including the effects of diverse atmospheric conditions is manifested in the microscale simulations, through significant variations (~30%) in the critical building-related design parameters, such as the surface pressure distributions and local wind patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:43:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bffcadf4af9d48fc9e5edf3bc0939fe1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:43:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-bffcadf4af9d48fc9e5edf3bc0939fe12023-11-22T12:50:24ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-09-011418562410.3390/en14185624Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale ModelDemetri Bouris0Athanasios G. Triantafyllou1Athina Krestou2Elena Leivaditou3John Skordas4Efstathios Konstantinidis5Anastasios Kopanidis6Qing Wang7Laboratory for Innovative Environmental Technologies, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zograou, GreeceLaboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, GreeceLaboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, GreeceLaboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, GreeceLaboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Κozani, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Κozani, GreeceMeteorology Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943-5006, USAMesoscale numerical weather prediction models usually provide information regarding environmental parameters near urban areas at a spatial resolution of the order of thousands or hundreds of meters, at best. If detailed information is required at the building scale, an urban-scale model is necessary. Proper definition of the boundary conditions for the urban-scale simulation is very demanding in terms of its compatibility with environmental conditions and numerical modeling. Here, steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) microscale simulations of the wind and thermal environment are performed over an urban area of Kozani, Greece, using both the k-ε and k-ω SST turbulence models. For the boundary conditions, instead of interpolating vertical profiles from the mesoscale solution, which is obtained with the atmospheric pollution model (TAPM), a novel approach is proposed, relying on previously developed analytic expressions, based on the Monin Obuhkov similarity theory, and one-way coupling with minimal information from mesoscale indices (V<sub>y</sub> = 10 m, T<sub>y</sub> = 100 m, L<sub>*</sub>). The extra computational cost is negligible compared to direct interpolation from mesoscale data, and the methodology provides design phase flexibility, allowing for the representation of discrete urban-scale atmospheric conditions, as defined by the mesoscale indices. The results compared favorably with the common interpolation practice and with the following measurements obtained for the current study: SODAR for vertical profiles of wind speed and a meteorological temperature profiler for temperature. The significance of including the effects of diverse atmospheric conditions is manifested in the microscale simulations, through significant variations (~30%) in the critical building-related design parameters, such as the surface pressure distributions and local wind patterns.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/18/5624urban microclimatebuilt environmentcomputational fluid dynamicsatmospheric boundary layerboundary conditions |
| spellingShingle | Demetri Bouris Athanasios G. Triantafyllou Athina Krestou Elena Leivaditou John Skordas Efstathios Konstantinidis Anastasios Kopanidis Qing Wang Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model Energies urban microclimate built environment computational fluid dynamics atmospheric boundary layer boundary conditions |
| title | Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model |
| title_full | Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model |
| title_fullStr | Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model |
| title_short | Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model |
| title_sort | urban scale computational fluid dynamics simulations with boundary conditions from similarity theory and a mesoscale model |
| topic | urban microclimate built environment computational fluid dynamics atmospheric boundary layer boundary conditions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/18/5624 |
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