WindSim
WindSim is a computational fluid dynamics-based wind farm design software that combines advanced numerical processing with compelling 3D visualization in a user-friendly interface. First launched in 2003, WindSim has evolved into a comprehensive suite covering the entire wind farm lifecycle, from initial site screening to power forecasting. The software is utilized worldwide by wind resource and energy assessors, meteorologists, and researchers at wind turbine manufacturers, project developers, government agencies, and academic institutions. WindSim's modular approach includes several key components: the Terrain module generates a 3D model of the area around a wind farm based on elevation and roughness data; the Wind Fields module simulates how terrain affects local wind conditions, accounting for speed variations, direction shifts, and turbulence; the Objects module facilitates the placement of turbines and measurement points within an interactive 3D interface.
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Openwind
Openwind is an advanced wind farm design and optimization software developed by UL Solutions, utilized throughout a wind project's development to create optimal turbine layouts that maximize energy production, minimize energy losses, account for plant development costs, and generate overall project efficiencies. The software enables users to optimize layouts and turbine positions to minimize the cost of energy, considering factors such as energy production, operations and maintenance costs, and capital expenditures, including turbine and plant development costs. Openwind incorporates leading-edge wake models, including the Deep Array Wake Model (DAWM), which considers dynamic interactions between turbines and the atmospheric boundary layer, allowing wakes to vary with turbulence intensity and stability. The platform also offers time-series energy capture capabilities, allowing for detailed analysis of energy production over time.
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WindFarmer
WindFarmer is a comprehensive desktop software application developed by DNV for wind energy assessment and wind farm design. It utilizes DNV's validated methodologies to predict reliable energy yield results, ensuring long-term returns on investment for wind energy projects. The software offers a user-friendly interface with intuitive workflows, enabling both novice and expert users to efficiently perform complex calculations and trace results. WindFarmer's capabilities include site selection analysis, wind climate analysis, wind flow modeling, wake modeling, blockage effect estimation, and turbine layout optimization. Optional modules, such as the Environment module, provide tools for noise impact analysis and shadow flicker assessment, while the Automation module allows for customized workflows and process automation.
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Orbital Stack
Orbital Stack is an AI and CFD web-based software that provides earlier qualitative guidance, comparing a large number of design options while highlighting any potential wind and thermal comfort red flags. It allows for the realization of a variety of climate-conscious, high-performance developments not previously feasible due to cost and/or time constraints associated with traditional studies.
Orbital Stack is the first digital climate-analysis tool built by global leaders in wind and microclimate engineering using real wind tunnel data. It is truly a game-changer for the architecture and building design sector, offering our clients direct access to wind comfort and safety analysis, thermal comfort and shadowing analysis, and cladding pressure simulations. This means architects can run their own wind simulations and quickly understand the climate impacts of their proposed building designs from the start, making decisions that result in higher performing and more resilient projects.
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