Documentation: Solver Descriptions

docs/_toc.yml

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ parts:
   - caption: Theory and Background
     chapters:
     - file: wake_models
+    - file: solvers
     - file: bibliography
 
   - caption: Developer Reference

docs/solvers.md

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+# Solver Descriptions
+
+FLORIS includes a collection of solver algorithms to support different
+types of simulations and details for all wake models. The solver
+is selected and configured in the `solver` block of the main input file
+by specifying a type of grid, and each solver type has specific
+configuration options.
+
+The following solver-types are available:
+- `sequential_solver`
+    - Required grid: `TurbineGrid`
+    - Primary use: AEP
+    - This is the general purpose solver for any wake model that doesn't
+        have a corresponding solver. It is often used in other solver
+        algorithms to initialize the velocities at the turbines.
+- `full_flow_sequential_solver`:
+    - Required grid: `FullFlowGrid`, `FullFlowPlanarGrid`
+    - Primary use: Visualization
+    - This is a widely used solver typically for visualization of a plane
+        of points within the fluid domain. It is compatible with any wake
+        model that doesn't have a corresponding solver.
+- `cc_solver`:
+    - Required grid: `TurbineGrid`
+    - Primary use: AEP with Cumulative-Curl model
+    - This is a version of the `sequential_solver` specific to the
+        Cumulative-Curl wake model.
+- `full_flow_cc_solver`:
+    - Required grid: `FullFlowGrid`, `FullFlowPlanarGrid`
+    - Primary use: Visualization with Cumulative-Curl model
+    - This is a version of the `full_flow_sequential_solver` specific to the
+        Cumulative-Curl wake model.
+- `turbopark_solver`:
+    - Required grid: `TurbineGrid`
+    - Primary use: AEP with TurbOPark model
+    - This is a version of the `sequential_solver` specific to the
+        TurbOPark wake model.
+- `full_flow_turbopark_solver`:
+    - Required grid: `FullFlowGrid`, `FullFlowPlanarGrid`
+    - Primary use: Visualization with TurbOPark model
+    - This is a version of the `full_flow_sequential_solver` specific to the
+        TurbOPark wake model.
+
+
+
+## Sequential Solvers
+
+This collection of solvers iterates over each turbine in order from
+upstream to downstream and applies the current turbine's wake impacts
+onto the downstream grid points. The grid points are typically
+associated with a turbine's rotor grid. The wake effect is calculated
+for the entire downstream domain, and masks are used to apply the wake
+only to points within a box of influence. The velocity deficit due to the
+wake is combined with the freestream velocity via the chosen wake
+combination model.
+
+## Full Flow Solvers
+
+These solvers are typically used for visualization of a 3d or 2D
+collection of points. First, a sequential solver is used to calculate
+the wake as described above. Then, another loop over all turbines
+allows to add the impact of each turbine onto the points throughout
+the fluid domain.