windsim 5.0

WindSim 5 includes a long list of innovative new features, added functionality, and valuable extensions. You’ll see refinements in the GUI—for an even smoother and richer user experience—to major upgrades in performance and physical modeling. WindSim 5 still includes the powerful, market-leading capabilities of our earlier versions. Our renowned modular approach that embodies—and helps you adhere to—the industry’s best practices is still there. Your favorite stuff is intact.

TERRAIN EDITOR

The starting point for any numerical wind model is a terrain model with height and roughness data. Obtaining height data is usually straightforward—even for high resolution datasets. But, getting the corresponding high resolution roughness dataset could be problematic. That’s why we developed our new Terrain Editor—now you can make your own roughness datasets. Start with high resolution images readily available from many sources including Google Earth, Bing Maps, and others.

ENHANCED 3D VIEWER

WindSim already delivers Park Layout for interactive wind farm design in the 3D Viewer. Now, the 3D Viewer is a full-blown post-processor. Want the distribution of the wind speed and turbulence over the swept turbine area?
You got it.

WAKE MODELING WITH ACTUATOR DISC

We’re seeing lots of offshore activity. Large offshore wind farms need better models to address wake-wake interactions. WindSim’s new CFD-based actuator disc approach does that and more. It’s also useful in complex terrain to determine proper wake-terrain interaction. The WindSim technique is fully automatic. The numerical model, with all turbines represented as actuator discs, is easily established based on your proposed turbine layout.

VARIABLE HEIGHT FOREST MODEL

WindSim has developed a new Variable Height Forest Model to take advantage of the variable canopy height giving more accurate description of the wind fields.

NOISE CALCULATIONS

WindSim now delivers a broadband noise calculation feature showing a map of sound pressure levels from simulations to gain valuable insight into the way sound propagates from the wind turbines to the surrounding areas and objects.

THERMAL STRATIFICATION

WindSim now offers CFD wind field simulations considering thermal stratification. This allows you to investigate flow blocking effects over mountains and the reduced wind speed at the hilltops in stable stratifications.

INTERMAP COMPATIBILITY

WindSim is now compatible with the high resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) available from Intermap.
We can extract their elevation data and also extract the height of the canopy layer. Plus, we developed a new Variable Height Forest Model to take advantage of the available canopy height.

NEW LICENSING TECHNOLOGY

We updated our licensing technology to offer more flexible licensing options. Whether you have a single workstation installation or a much wider deployment, you will get the best value and return from your WindSim investment.

PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS

We incorporated the latest developments from our technology partners to strengthen our underlying product platform. We’re well-positioned to easily leverage future advances to deliver more robust product solutions to you. Microsoft .NET Framework 4 is just one example.