Continuum 2.0 uses a self-learning algorithm and patented calculations to ensure it’s easy-to-navigate and affordable.

Software developer Cancalia has announced that the next version of their wind-flow modeling software is now available. Continuum 2.0 provides wind-flow developers with quick and accurate modeling and affordable licensing.

“In Continuum 2.0, the wind-flow model was extended to include an innovative surface roughness model, which significantly improves the model’s accuracy at sites with variable land cover,” explained Cancalia Co-Founder and Engineer Liz Walls. “Also, with wake-loss modeling now implemented in version 2.0, users can estimate the net energy and thereby eliminate the need for additional calculations or software outside of Continuum.”

The wake-loss modeling tool lets users select from two different wake loss options and creates high-resolution maps of the wakes. Moreover, Continuum 2.0 estimates the effect of surface roughness on the wind flow, improving model accuracy and decreasing met cross-prediction error by as much as 35%.

Developers can now also create wind-flow models using pre-construction met data and then import that site-calibrated model to use with the wind farm’s permanent tower data to estimate the power production. By comparing the modeled estimates with actual production values, poor performing turbines can easily be identified and the overall wind-farm performance can be tracked over time.

Continuum’s easy-to-use interface makes navigating the software simple. The accurate wind-speed estimates and fast computing time will benefit wind-farm developers and consultants who need quick and timely answers.

“It is our main goal to simplify and streamline the resource assessment process without sacrificing quality or accuracy and, with Continuum 2.0, we took another large step in that direction,” said Walls.

Cancalia Engineering & Consulting, LLC
www.cancalia.com

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Natural Power’s assessments of its new modeling software has shown that it runs 1.7 times faster than the previous installation.

Renewable energy consultancy, Natural Power, has been developing new models for more accurately predicting wind-farm performance. According to the company, the investment in new high-performance computing has enabled the business to produce results from its most advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models at wind-farm scale within five to six days. This is a large improvement over the 60 days required before.

Claude Abiven, Senior Technical Manager at Natural Power, said: “The improved speed creates an obvious commercial advantage. No client wants to wait 60 days for modeling outcomes. More significantly, it means we can increase certainty in our calculations, which can be directly translated in to cost savings. When the bill for a wind farm runs in to hundreds of millions, that’s an important factor – and a potential game changer for the industry.”

Simple linear wind-flow prediction models can run off a laptop computer, but more computationally intensive models are required when farms are located in complex or forested terrain or in the presence of complex atmospheres (such as sea breezes).

In these circumstances, linear wind-flow models provide a much less accurate picture. To overcome the limitations of existing techniques, Natural Power worked in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto (FE-UP) in Portugal and Renewable Energy Systems (RES) to develop a more advanced CFD.

While developing the model, Natural Power realized it wouldn’t be able to run effectively on its existing server and so has selected a SuperMicro supercomputer powered by Intel Xeon processor E5-2660 v3. Internal assessments have shown that this runs 1.7 times faster than the previous installation.

With greater computational power and more certain modeling, Natural Power has positioned itself to take advantage of renewed growth in demand for wind-powered energy generation.

“Wind power has enormous potential but there are multiple variables involved at each installation that will affect yield and, consequently, the financial viability of both new and existing sites,” explained Abiven.“Typically our customers need an accurate picture of the likely output of the wind farms they are planning to build or buy so they can determine projected profit and hence the loan criteria. The more accurate the calculation is, the more attractive the terms for financing become – and the more easily wind power can be integrated into the overall energy mix.”

In 2014, the wind power industry set a new record for annual installations. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), worldwide generating capacity increased by 51,477 MW to reach 369,553 MW. GWEC also suggests that wind power could supply between eight and 12% of global electricity by 2020.

Behind this increase in wind-power installations is a complex series of calculations and analysis of potential performance. When planning new installations, investors, utilities, and turbine manufacturers all need an accurate picture of what the energy yield will be, whether it will deliver an attractive return on its financing, and whether it will affect local populations and wildlife.

Natural Power helps global wind-power clients create and analyze this picture. It currently manages 2% of the UK’s installed onshore wind capacity and is steering more than 50 wind farms through construction.

Natural Power
www.naturalpower.com

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Liz Walls, the developer of Continuum software.

Welcome to this WindTalk podcast, a series of discussions with wind-industry leaders. In this edition, we talk with Liz Walls, the Co-founder of software-development company Cancalia Engineering & Consulting.

Here she discusses the importance of wind modeling and the development of Continuum, a new wind-flow modeling software that provides a range of services, including met cross-validation studies, turbine performance evaluation, and more.

This WindTalk podcast is brought to you by ExxonMobil.

The post A new approach to wind-flow modeling appeared first on Windpower Engineering & Development.