NUMERICAL SIMULATION STUDY ON FORMATION MECHANISM OF WIND ENERGY RESOURCES IN SOUTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU VALLEYS

Zhu Rong; Sun Chaoyang; Xiang Yang; Fu Bin; Jiang Zixiao

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2261

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3) : 462-473. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2261

NUMERICAL SIMULATION STUDY ON FORMATION MECHANISM OF WIND ENERGY RESOURCES IN SOUTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU VALLEYS

Zhu Rong¹, Sun Chaoyang¹, Xiang Yang¹, Fu Bin², Jiang Zixiao²

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Abstract

The valleys of the southern Tibetan plateau possess abundant wind energy resource classified as ‘rich’ and ‘very rich’, with favorable geographical conditions and power grid infrastructure supporting wind energy development. Accordingly, this paper investigates the formation mechanisms of wind energy resources in the wide-valley terrain of the southern Tibetan plateau. By conducting coupled mesoscale and computational fluid dynamics （CFD） numerical simulations and verifying the results with meteorological station and sodar （acoustic radar） wind measurements, the following conclusions are drawn： Valley wind circulation is the dominant factor in forming wind energy resources in the southern Tibetan valleys; Post-sunrise differential heating—slow warming of snow-capped peaks versus rapid heating of desert valley surfaces—produces pressure gradients that induce glacier winds, explaining frequent afternoon gales observed across the Tibetan Plateau; Meso-to-microscale coupled numerical simulation can effectively incorporate local atmospheric circulation background wind fields into CFD calculations, enhancing our understanding of wind resource characteristics in wind farms; In plateau valleys, wind direction shows diurnal variation, so it is best to identify the local atmospheric circulation background wind field characteristics through mesoscale numerical simulation before deploying wind measurement station.

Key words

wind energy / Tibetan plateau / numerical model / sodar / coupling of mesoscale model and CFD model / glacier wind

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Zhu Rong, Sun Chaoyang, Xiang Yang, Fu Bin, Jiang Zixiao. NUMERICAL SIMULATION STUDY ON FORMATION MECHANISM OF WIND ENERGY RESOURCES IN SOUTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU VALLEYS[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(3): 462-473 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2261

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