Experimental investigation of interference effect of high-rise buildings for wind energy extraction

Abstract

In order to increase wind energy harvesting from urban environment, the wind be- havior and the effect of the surrounding buildings needs to be fully understood. In this paper, wind tunnel experiments of the flow around a high-rise building with a height to width ratio of 3:1 surrounded by four high-rise buildings of the same geometry were performed to investigate the interference effect on the above roof flow. The buildings were mounted in an environmental boundary layer resembling that of a built environment and velocity measurements over the top of the principal building were performed. Four different wind angles, with respect to the side of the high-rise building, were investigated experimentally; 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°.