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Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model

Author

Listed:
  • Demetri Bouris

    (Laboratory for Innovative Environmental Technologies, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zograou, Greece)

  • Athanasios G. Triantafyllou

    (Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, Greece)

  • Athina Krestou

    (Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, Greece)

  • Elena Leivaditou

    (Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, Greece)

  • John Skordas

    (Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Physics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50132 Κozani, Greece)

  • Efstathios Konstantinidis

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Κozani, Greece)

  • Anastasios Kopanidis

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Κozani, Greece)

  • Qing Wang

    (Meteorology Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943-5006, USA)

Abstract

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 y = 10 m, T y = 100 m, L * ). 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Demetri Bouris & Athanasios G. Triantafyllou & Athina Krestou & Elena Leivaditou & John Skordas & Efstathios Konstantinidis & Anastasios Kopanidis & Qing Wang, 2021. "Urban-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Boundary Conditions from Similarity Theory and a Mesoscale Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:18:p:5624-:d:630851
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrius Jurelionis & Demetri G. Bouris, 2016. "Impact of Urban Morphology on Infiltration-Induced Building Energy Consumption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Durán, Pablo & Meiβner, Cathérine & Casso, Pau, 2020. "A new meso-microscale coupled modelling framework for wind resource assessment: A validation study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 538-554.
    3. Asmae El Bahlouli & Daniel Leukauf & Andreas Platis & Kjell zum Berge & Jens Bange & Hermann Knaus, 2020. "Validating CFD Predictions of Flow over an Escarpment Using Ground-Based and Airborne Measurement Devices," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
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