Wind energy assessment and capture

STAR-CCM+ can be used to investigate large scale simulation problems such as those posed by wind parks. Efficient mesh generation is done from Graphical Information System (GIS) data of the terrain, power-law wind profiles are applied at the boundaries, and localised surface roughness can be used.

The current models and features available in STAR-CCM+ that are relevant for the aerodynamic analysis of wind turbines are: integrated meshing, various turbulence models, MRF, rigid body motions, transient and steady simulations, coupled solver, force and moment reports, transition modeling and the easy definition of the rotating/stationary interface.

STAR-CCM+ can be run in batch using macros allowing a series of automatic analyses on large meshes. It also allows implementing user-defined field function for specific types of analysis and post-processing.

For example the moment on the blade is calculated while the simulation is running. Then the rotation speed can be updated based on that moment automatically. The starting parameters can be the wind speed and profile at the inlet of the model's domain and an initial rotation speed guess.

Other STAR-CD features can also aid the wind turbine industry:

Stress analysis: Integrated in STAR-CD v4, coupling STAR-CD and ABAQUS and using es-fsi - all feature fluid-structural interaction.

Icing analysis: melting & solidification in STAR-CD v4.

Acoustics analysis: which design will produce less noise.