In this article, results obtained from two computational fluid dynamics solvers, WindSim and OpenFOAM, have been compared for the wind flow around the University of Mauritius’ campus for different wind directions, and a reference incident wind speed at diverse height above ground level. A grid resolution study is performed for both software and the mean differences of the two solvers with multiple turbulence models (standard k-ε, k-ε with Yap correction, and renormalization group k-ε) are analyzed with onsite measured data. The article concludes that the best results for the computational fluid dynamics simulation of the wind flow around buildings are obtained using OpenFOAM with k-ε turbulence model including Yap correction.
AWS (1997) Wind resource assessment handbook: Fundamentals for conducting a successful monitoring program. Report prepared for National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL Subcontract no. TAT-5-15283-01, April. Albany, NY: AWS Scientific, Inc.
2.
BaikJJKangYSKimJJ (2007) Modeling reactive pollutant dispersion in an urban street canyon. Atmospheric Environment41: 934–949.
3.
BartzisJGVlachogiannisDSfetsosA (2004) Thematic area 5: Best practice advice for environmental flows. QNET-CFD Network Newsletter2: 34–39.
4.
BlockenBCarmelietJ (2002) Spatial and temporal distribution of driving rain on a low-rise building. Wind and Structures (5): 441–462.
5.
BlockenBCarmelietJ (2004a) A review of wind-driven rain research in building science. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics92(13): 1079–1130.
6.
BlockenBCarmelietJ (2004b) Pedestrian wind environment around buildings: Literature review and practical examples. Journal of Thermal Envelope and Building Science28(2): 107–159.
7.
BlockenBCarmelietJStathopoulosT (2007) CFD evaluation of wind speed conditions in passages between parallel buildings—effect of wall-function roughness modifications for the atmospheric boundary layer flow. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics95(9–11): 941–962.
8.
BlockenBCarmelietJMoonenP. (2008) Numerical study on the existence of the Venturi effect in passages between perpendicular buildings. Journal of Engineering Mechanics-ASCE134(12): 1021–1028.
9.
BritterRHannaS (2003) Flow and dispersion in urban areas. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics35: 469–496.
10.
BritterRSchatzmannM (2007) Background and Justification Document to Support the Model Evaluation Guidance and Protocol, 3-00-018312-4 COST Office, Brussels, Belgium Cost Action 732.
11.
FerzigerJHPericM (2002) Computational Methods for Fluid Dynamics (3rd edn). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
12.
FrankeJHellstenASchlünzenH. (2007) Best practice guideline for the CFD simulation of flows in the urban environment. COST Action 732, 1May. Brussels: COST Office.
13.
GaglianoANoceraFPataniaF. (2013) Assessment of micro-wind turbines performance in the urban environments: An aided methodology through geographical information systems. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering4: 43.
14.
GSI (2015) “Google Satellite Map,” Google Earth.
15.
HansonTSummersDMWilsonCB (1986) Validation of a computer simulation of wind flow over a building model. Building and Environment21: 97–111.
16.
HoudaSZemmouriNHasseineA. (2012) A CFD model for simulating urban flow in complex morphological street network. The Online Journal of Science and Technology2(1): 1–10.
17.
KalmikovADupontGDykesK. (2010) Wind power resource assessment in complex urban environments: MIT campus case study using CFD analysis. In: AWEA 2010 WINDPOWER conference, Dallas, TX, USA, 23–26 May 2010.
18.
KangYSBaikJJKimJJ (2008) Further studies of flow and reactive pollutant dispersion in a street canyon with bottom heating. Atmospheric Environment42: 4964–4975.
19.
KumarPFennellPBritterR (2008) Effect of wind direction and speed on the dispersion of nucleation and accumulation mode particles in an urban street canyon. Science of the Total Environment402: 82–94.
20.
LaunderBESpaldingDB (1974) The numerical computation of turbulent flows. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering3: 269–289.
21.
LiXXLiuCHLeungD. (2006) Recent progress in CFD modelling of wind field and pollutant transport in street canyons. Atmospheric Environment40: 5640–5658.
22.
McNabolaABroderickBMGillLW (2009) A numerical investigation of the impact of low boundary walls on pedestrian exposure to air pollutants in urban street canyons. Science of the Total Environment407: 760–769.
ParenteAGorléCVan BeeckJ. (2011) A comprehensive modelling approach for the neutral atmospheric boundary layer: Consistent inflow conditions, wall function and turbulence model. Boundary-Layer Meteorology140: 411–428.
26.
RichardsPJHoxeyRP (1993) Appropriate boundary conditions for computational wind engineering models using the k-ε turbulence model. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics46–47: 145–153.
27.
RoachePJ (1998) Verification of codes and calculations. AIAA Journal36: 696–702.
28.
SabatinoSDBuccolieriRPulvirentiB. (2007) Simulations of pollutant dispersion within idealized urban-type geometries with CFD and integral models. Atmospheric Environment41: 8316–8329.
29.
SabatinoSDBuccolieriRPulvirentiB. (2008) Flow and pollutant dispersion in street canyons using FLUENT and ADMS-Urban. Environmental Modeling & Assessment13: 369–381.
30.
SchatzmannMLeitlB (2011) Issues with validation of urban flow and dispersion CFD models. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics99(4): 169–186.
31.
SolazzoEVardoulakisSCaiX (2007) Evaluation of traffic-producing turbulence schemes within operating schemes within operational street pollution models using road side measurements. Atmospheric Environment41: 5357–5370.
32.
StathopoulosTBaskaranA (1996) Computer simulation of wind environmental conditions around buildings. Engineering Structures18(11): 876–885.
33.
Toja-SilvaFColmenar-SantosACastro-GilM (2013) Urban wind energy exploitation systems: Behavior under multidirectional flow conditions—opportunities and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews24: 364–378.
34.
Toja-SilvaFPeraltaCLopez-GarciaO. (2015a) On roof geometry for urban wind energy exploitation in high-rise buildings. Computation3(2): 299–325.
35.
Toja-SilvaFPeraltaCLopez-GarciaO. (2015b) Roof region dependent wind potential assessment with different RANS turbulence models. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics142: 258–271.
36.
Van HooffTBlockenB (2010) On the effect of wind direction and urban surroundings on natural ventilation of a large semi-enclosed stadium. Computers & Fluids39(7): 1146–1155.
37.
VardoulakisSFisherBEAPericleousK. (2003) Modelling air quality in street canyons: A review. Atmospheric Environment37: 155–182.
38.
WesselingP. (2001) Principles of Computational Fluid Dynamics. New York: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
39.
YakhotVOrszagSAThangamS. (1992) Development of turbulence models for shear flows by a double expansion technique. Physics of Fluids A-Fluid Dynamics4(7): 1510–1520.
40.
YapCJ (1987) Turbulent heat and momentum transfer in recirculating and impinging flows. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Technology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
