Evaluation of an offshore wind farm computational fluid dynamics model against operational site data

Modelling wind turbine wake effects at a range of wind speeds and directions with actuator disk (AD) models can provide insight but also be challenging. With any model it is important to quantify the level of error, but this can also present a challenge when comparing a steady-state model to measurement data with scatter. This paper models wind flow in a wind farm at a range of wind speeds and directions using an AD implementation. The results from these models are compared to data collected from the actual farm being modelled. An extensive comparison is conducted, constituted from 35 cases where two turbulence models, the standard k-ε and k-ω SST are evaluated. The steps taken in building the models as well as processes for comparing the AD computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results to real-world data using the regression models of ensemble bagging and Gaussian process are outlined. Turbine performance data and boundary conditions are determined using the site data. Modifications to an existing opensource AD code are shown so that the predetermined turbine performance can be implemented into the CFD model. Steady state solutions are obtained with the OpenFOAM CFD solver. Results are compared in terms of velocity deficit at the measurement locations. Using the standard k-ε model, a mean absolute error for all cases together of roughly 8% can be achieved, but this error changes for different directions and methods of evaluating it.</p

New reduction factor for Cracked Square hollow section K-joints

Cracks are commonly observed at the hot spot stress location of tubular joints and it can be due to fatigue, accidental damage or corrosion. As a consequence, the plastic collapse load (Pc) of the tubular joints is reduced, and hence it is necessary to produce design guidance which can safely be used to estimate the static residual strength of cracked tubular structures in practice. This paper proposes a new expression for determining the reduction factor (FAR) of cracked square hollow section (SHS) K-joints. A completely new and robust finite element mesh generator which is validated using the full scale experimental test results is used for the parametric study to propose the new FAR expressions for cracked SHS K-joints. The crack area and the brace to chord width ratio (β) are shown to have the most profound effect on the Pc load of cracked SHS K-joints. For a given value of crack area, the variation of the FAR values is up to 3.6% for different values of β. Furthermore, the FAR values calculated using the existing equation given in the latest BS 7910:2013 + A1:2015 for circular hollow section (CHS) joints are revealed to be conservative up to 23.5%

Development of a stochastic computational fluid dynamics approach for offshore wind farms

In this paper, a method for stochastic analysis of an offshore wind farm using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is proposed. An existing offshore wind farm is modelled using a steady-state CFD solver at several deterministic input ranges and an approximation model is trained on the CFD results. The approximation model is then used in a Monte-Carlo analysis to build joint probability distributions for values of interest within the wind farm. The results are compared with real measurements obtained from the existing wind farm to quantify the accuracy of the predictions. It is shown that this method works well for the relatively simple problem considered in this study and has potential to be used in more complex situations where an existing analytical method is either insufficient or unable to make a good prediction

Modelling of methanol synthesis in a network of forced unsteady-state ring reactors by artificial neural networks for control purposes

A numerical model based on artificial neural networks (ANN) was developed to simulate the dynamic behaviour of a three reactors network (or ring reactor), with periodic change of the feed position, when low-pressure methanol synthesis is carried out. A multilayer, feedforward, fully connected ANN was designed and the history stack adaptation algorithm was implemented and tested with quite good results both in terms of model identification and learning rates. The influence of the ANN parameters was addressed, leading to simple guidelines for the selection of their values. A detailed model was used to generate the patterns adopted for the learning and testing phases. The simplified model was finalised to develop a model predictive control scheme in order to maximise methanol yield and to fulfil process constraints

Carbon brainprint - An estimate of the intellectual contribution of research institutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions

This is the accepted manuscript of a paper published in Process Safety and Environmental Protection (Chatterton J, et al., Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2015, 96, 74-81, doi:10.1016/j.psep.2015.04.008). The final version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2015.04.008Research and innovation have considerable, currently unquantified potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by, for example, increasing energy efficiency. Furthermore, the process of knowledge transfer in itself can have a significant impact on reducing emissions, by promoting awareness and behavioural change. The concept of the ‘carbon brainprint’ was proposed to convey the intellectual contribution of higher education institutions to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by other parties through research and teaching/training activities. This paper describes an investigation of the feasibility of quantifying the carbon brainprint, through six case studies. The potential brainprint of higher education institutes is shown to be significant: up to 500 kt CO2e/year for one project. The most difficult aspect is attributing the brainprint among multiple participants in joint projects.The Carbon Brainprint project was supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) under its Leading Sustainable Development in Higher Education programme, with support for case studies from Santander Universities. HEFCE, Research Councils UK and the Carbon Trust were members of the Steering Committee, which provided guidance, but did not direct the research. The Carbon Trust also advised on best practice in carbon footprinting. We are grateful to the many university staff at Cranfield, Cambridge and Reading Universities who shared their work with us so enthusiastically. We also thank the external partners and clients for the projects on which these case studies are based: Rolls-Royce plc, the ETI NOVA consortium, IGD, the Environment Agency, Esso, Repsol YPF, Carnego Systems Ltd. and Newera Controls Ltd

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS IN THE AKROPOTAMOS AREA (MACEDONIA, NORTHERN GREECE)

Το γεωθερμικό πεδίο Ακροποτάμου Καβάλας παράγει ρευστά θερμοκρασίας μέχρι 90oC. Τα νερά των γεωτρήσεων ΑΚΡ-1, ΑΚΡ-3, ΑΚΡ-4, ΑΚΡ-5 και ΑΚΡ-6θερμοκρασίας 30-86oC και ΣΔΑ (TDS) 3.1-30.7 g/l κατατάσσονται στην κατηγορία των Na-CI νερών. Το νερό της γεώτρησης ΑΚΡ-2 θερμοκρασίας 46oC και TDS 2.15 g/l, είναι Na-HCO3Cl τύπου. Τα ψυχρά και υπόθερμα νερά (16.4 27oC) είναι γλυκά έως χαμηλής αλατότητας νερά (TDS 0.31-4.34 g/l) διαφόρων μεικτών τύπων. Τα γεωθερμικά νερά, Na-CI σύστασης, μπορούν να διακριθούν σε δύο κατηγορίες εξαιτίας της ύπαρξης δύο διαφορετικών θερμών υδροφορέων (α) Ο πρώτος ρηχός υδροφορέας περιέχει νερά υψηλής αλατότητας (TDS: 27.4 30.7 g/l), θερμοκρασίας 30-48oC, μέσα σε άμμους, ψαμμίτες και χάλικες. (β) Ο δεύτερος βαθύτερος ταμιευτήρας αποτελούμενος από ασβεστολιθικά κροκαλοπαγή και ψαμμίτες φιλοξενεί νερά χαμηλότερης αλατότητας (TDS: 3.1 5.08 g/l) θερμοκρασίας 83-90oC. Η συμβολή του θαλασσινού νερού στη χημική σύσταση των θερμών νερών φαίνεται ότι είναι σημαντική. Με τη βοήθεια χημικών γεωθερμομέτρων που εφαρμόστηκαν στο γεωθερμικό νερό της γεώτρησης ΑΚΡ-1, η βαθύτερη θερμοκρασία των ρευστών υπολογίστηκε σε &gt;120oC. Στις γεωτρήσεις ΑΚΡ-1 και ΑΚΡ-3 συναντώνται σημαντικές ποσότητες CO2.The geothermal field of Akropotamos produces fluids at temperatures up to 90oC. The waters from wells AKR-1, AKR-3, AKR-4, AKR-5 and AKR-6 at 30 86oC and TDS of 3.1-30.7 g/l are classified as Na-Cl type. The water from well AKR-2 at 46oC with TDS of 2.15 g/l belongs to Na-HCO3Cl type. The cold and sub-thermal waters (16.4- 27oC) in the area are considered as fresh or low salinity waters (TDS: 0.31-4.34 g/l) of various mixed types. The Na-Cl geothermal waters can be divided into two categories due to two different hot aquifers: (a) Τhe first shallow aquifer contains high salinity waters (TDS: 27.4 30.7 g/l) at 30-48oC located within sands, sandstones and gravels. (b) Τhe second deeper reservoir composed of calcareous conglomerates and sandstones contains lower salinity waters (TDS: 3.1-5.08 g/l) at 83-90οC. The contribution of seawater to the chemical composition of the thermal waters in the shallow aquifer system seems to be important. With the aid of chemical geothermomometers applied to the geothermal water from well AKR-1, the deep temperature has been estimated to be &gt;120oC. Significant quantities of CO2 are encountered in wells AKR-1 and AKR-3

GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION IN THE ALEXANDRIA AREA, THESSALONIKI BASIN (MACEDONIA, NORTHERN GREECE)

Η περιοχή της Αλεξάνδρειας βρίσκεται στη Λεκάνη Θεσσαλονίκης, η οποία έχει πληρωθεί με ιζήματα πάχους άνω των 4 km. To 1980, κατασκευάσθηκε βόρεια της πόλης της Αλεξάνδρειας η γεώτρηση έρευνας υδρογονανθράκων AL-1, βάθους 1705 m, στην οποία καταγράφηκαν οι θερμοκρασίες των 39 και 65oC σε βάθη 700 και 1705 m αντίστοιχα. Μεταξύ 1996 και 2000, ανορύχθηκαν δύο γεωθερμικές ερευνητικές γεωτρήσεις, βάθους 532 και 620 m, οι οποίες διέτρησαν Τεταρτογενή και Πλειοκαινικά ιζήματα και στις οποίες μετρήθηκαν θερμοκρασίες 30.1 και 33.4oC σε βάθη 500 και 611 m αντίστοιχα. Η προκαταρκτική γεωθερμική έρευνα οδήγησε την κατασκευή της πρώτης παραγωγικής γεώτρησης (ΓΝ-1Π). Ανορύχθηκε μέχρι βάθος 805 m διατρύοντας αργίλους, άμμους, τόφφους, μάργες, αργιλο-μάργες, μαργαϊκούς ασβεστόλιθους, χάλικες, ψαμμίτες και κροκαλοπαγή. Η γεώτρηση σωληνώθηκε μέχρι τα 805 m και φίλτρα τοποθετήθηκαν σε διάφορα βάθη κάτω από τα 607 m. Τιμές θερμοκρασίας και ηλεκτρικής αγωγιμότητας 35.1-37.2oC και 5100-8200 μS/cmαντίστοιχα καταγράφηκαν σε βάθη 607-800 m. Η γεώτρηση παρουσιάζει αρτεσιανή ροή με 30-40 m3/h νερών των 34.1oC και παρέχει με άντληση 130 m3/h νερών θερμοκρασίας 35.5oC. Το παραγόμενο γεωθερμικό νερό με ΣΔΑ 2.18 g/l είναι του τύπου Na-Cl και διαφοροποιείται από τα ρηχά νερά. Η θερμική ισχύς της γεώτρησης ΓΝ-1Π υπολογίζεται σε 1.65 MWt.The area of Alexandria is located in the Thessaloniki basin that has been filled with more than 4 km of sediments. In 1980, oil exploration borehole AL-1, 1,705 m deep, was drilled north of the town of Alexandria and the temperatures of 39 and 65oC were recorded at depths of 700 and 1,705 m respectively. During 1996-2000, two geothermal exploration boreholes were drilled at depths of 532 and 620 m penetrating Quaternary and Pliocene sediments and the temperatures of 30.1 and 33.4oC were measured at 500 and 611 m respectively. The preliminary geothermal investigation resulted in the construction of the first production well (GN-1P). It was drilled to a depth of 805 m penetrating clays, sands, tuffs, marls, clayey marls, marly limestones, gravels, sandstones and conglomerates. The borehole was cased down to 805 m and screens were placed at various depths below 607 m. Temperature and electrical conductivity values of 35.1-37.2oC and 5,100-8,200 μS/cm respectively were recorded at depths of 607-800 m. This well discharges 30-40 m3/h waters at 34.1oC with artesian flow and provides 130 m3/h waters at 35.5oC with pumping. The produced geothermal water with TDS of 2.18 g/l belongs to the Na-Cl type differentiated from the shallow waters. The thermal capacity of well GN-1P is calculated to be 1.65 MWt