Numerical Investigation of Interference Effects on Wind Flow around a Group of Cooling Towers including Wind Ribs Effects

In this paper, the interference effects of neighboring large structures located at upstream of the cooling towers group were numerically investigated. In order to assess the computed pressure field, the concept of using equivalent sand-grain roughness is utilized to simulate the physical effects of external ribs. The numerical solution results are compared with a set of reported laboratory measurements as well as VGB code of practice. Having a verified numerical model, the interference effects of a group of cooling towers were considered. In order to investigate the grouping effect, the lay out of a set of three cooling tower Kazeroun power station (South west of Iran) was used. The computed wind pressures on cooling towers in a group with irregular arrangement present different distribution from the pressure values suggested by VGB guideline. The effects were found more pronounced for lower parts of the cooling towers by considering the interference effects of upstream large structures.