Modelling and simulation of wind flow: A gradient method of identifying windy region

Abstract

This paper presents biharmonic modelling and simulations of surface wind flow, which identify windy locales through wind speed gradients. The bulk measured and meteosat wind speed data encapsulate the wind isotachs and wind flow gradients, which are very useful in identifying windy locales. Thus, this paper presents a biharmonic wind flow model, BWFM for the development of wind isotachs and gradients to identify locales suitable for installing solar photovoltaic power plants within the study areas. The techniques include the acquisition of wind speed data (1980–2020) from the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), development of multiple BWFM solutions (free and forced) depending on the presence and absence of forcing function, respectively. The forcing function represents the topographic and orographic features of the study areas. The spatial development of isopleth of the study areas, unveiled the isotachs. The wind speed gradients were obtained by scalar computation of 2-D wind speed gradients. Comparison of forced solution with the threshold or maximum free solution engendered the identification of windy locales. The results of the model were validated against NASA data. The average wind speed threshold isotach (2.83 m/s) and wind gradient ( $0.01658{10}^{-3}/s$ ) for the study areas (All Regions) were established by scalar computation of free solution gradients. The study areas include Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Regions recorded the following maximum forced average wind speeds (2.725, 2.755, 2.875 and 1.794 m/s, respectively) and maximum wind flow gradients (insignificant, 0.03767, 0.08469 and infinitesimal ${10}^{-3}/s$ , respectively). These results are useful for identifying windy locales for installation of solar and wind facilities.