A simple steady-state inflow model of the neutral and stable atmospheric boundary layer applied to wind turbine wake simulations

Wind turbines are increasing in size and operate more frequently above the atmospheric surface layer, which requires improved inflow models for numerical simulations of turbine interaction. In this work, a steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model of the neutral and stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is introduced. The model employs a buoyancy source using a prescribed Brunt-Väisälä frequency, does not require a global turbulence length scale limiter, and is only dependent on two non-dimensional numbers. The proposed model assumes a constant temperature gradient over the entire ABL, which is a strong assumption but leads to a simple and well behaving inflow model. RANS wake simulations subjected to shallow and tall ABLs are performed and the results show a good agreement with results from two different large-eddy simulation codes in terms of velocity deficit.