Wind Energy Assessment for Nellis Dunes Area
Abstract
The importance of wind energy has rapidly increased due to depletion of fossil fuels, global warming, and environmental pollution. It is essential to accurate assess wind potential of a given area. The current thesis presents an investigation of the wind energy potential at Nellis Dunes area, a nearby location in the northeastern of Las Vegas. Most existing methods applied statistical study to analyze wind power potential of given sites. With increased computational power, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method is used in atmospheric boundary layer simulation to construct three dimensional terrain following wind fields. Simulation results are validated by metrological data from eight dust collection locations. Simulation errors are in an acceptable range. Daily and monthly cases are simulated for the year of 2008. Statistical methods include Weibull and Rayleigh distribution functions are applied to analyze wind characters. Annual, seasonal, and monthly wind speed variations are examined. As a result, wind speed probability distribution is determined, wind power density maps are constructed, and potential locations for citing wind turbines are discussed. It is found that the Nellis Dunes region has a reasonable wind energy potential which is suitable for citing wind turbine.
Degree
M.S.E.
Advisors
Wang, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Mechanical engineering|Environmental science|Environmental engineering
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