Modelling tidal stream turbines in a three-dimensional wave-current fully coupled oceanographic model

Li, Xiaorong.; Li, Ming; McLelland, Stuart J.; Jordan, Laura Beth.; Simmons, S.; Amoudry, Laurent O.; Ramírez-Mendoza, Rafael; Thorne, Peter D.

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033

Cited by 41 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The SSM model has been proven to be a very useful tool, since it allows us to study the effects over the entire NW European Shelf with a minimum spatial resolution (500 m to 1 km) that permits the resolution of the tidal stream energy sites (Lewis et al, ). However, higher resolution might allow further improvements in the representation of tidal stream turbines in the model, leading to both more accurate estimate of power and environmental effects, those include the following: (i) small scale (<1 km) interactions between turbine wakes to be reproduced; (ii) optimization techniques to be applied for the positioning and individual tuning of turbines that could potentially increase the extracted energy (Funke et al, ); (iii) changes in turbulence due to turbines' action for a correct reproduction of mixing behind turbines (Li et al, ). Additionally, a momentum sink term due to the drag of the physical structures of turbine blades, supporting poles, and foundations (Yang et al, ) can also be considered.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Effects of Climate Change and Tidal Stream Energy Extraction in a Shelf Sea

2018

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The environmental implications of tidal stream energy extraction need to be evaluated against the potential climate change impacts on the marine environment. Here we study how hypothetical very large tidal stream arrays and a business as usual future climate scenario can change the hydrodynamics of a seasonally stratified shelf sea. The Scottish Shelf Model, an unstructured grid three-dimensional ocean model, has been used to reproduce the present and the future state of the NW European continental shelf. Four scenarios have been modeled: present conditions and projected future climate in 2050, each with and without very large scale tidal stream arrays in Scottish Waters (UK). It is found that where tidal range is reduced a few centimeters by tidal stream energy extraction, it can help to counter extreme water levels associated with future sea level rise. Tidal velocities, and consequently tidal mixing, are also reduced overall by the action of the tidal turbine arrays. A key finding is that climate change and tidal energy extraction both act in the same direction, in terms of increasing stratification due to warming and reduced mixing; however, the effect of climate change is an order of magnitude larger.Plain Language Summary Tidal currents can turn underwater turbines, which can generate electricity. Tides in Scotland (United Kingdom, UK) can provide 10% of the present UK electricity demand. Does this come without side effects on the marine environment? The answer is no, but those side effects are going to be local and much smaller than the effects of climate change. We do not have a time machine, but we can use a numerical ocean model, a computer software that is able to predict the movement of ocean currents, among other things. We can simulate the present and future conditions in 2050 of the North and Irish Seas, with and without the ocean bottom being covered in some areas with underwater turbines. Our predictions tell us that the underwater turbines will slow down the ocean currents. This leads to a less vertical mixing of the ocean, reducing the exchange of water between the ocean bottom and the surface. However, the ocean model also anticipates that global warming will have the same effect, but 10 times larger. We discovered that the underwater turbines can also change the sea level, and, in some situations, this can help to protect the coast against future sea level rise.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Effects of Climate Change and Tidal Stream Energy Extraction in a Shelf Sea

2018

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“…Other turbulence models which have been implemented in RANS include another two-equation model, Mellor-Yamada [62] and the more complex seven-equation Reynolds stress model (RSM) [63].…”

Section: ) Other Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of tidal turbine wake modelling methods

Jump

Macleod

Wills³

2020

Int. J. Mar. Ene.

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Enabling Future Arrays in Tidal (EnFAIT) is an EU Horizon 2020 flagship tidal energy project. It aims to demonstrate the development, operation and decommissioning of the world’s largest tidal array (six turbines), over a five-year period, to prove a cost reduction pathway for tidal energy and confirm that it can be cost competitive with other forms of renewable energy. To determine the optimal site layout and spacing between turbines within a tidal array, it is essential to accurately characterise tidal turbine wakes and their effects. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of tidal turbine wake modelling methods, with an overview of the relevant fundamental theories. Numerical and physical modelling research completed by both academia and industry are considered to provide an overview of the contemporary understanding in this area. The scalability of single device modelling techniques to an array situation is discussed, particularly with respect to wake interactions.

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“…The energy extraction of tidal currents is modeled by Yang et al [11] using the momentum sink approach. The same methodology is validated with experimental data by Li et al [82], who used to study the effects of the installation of tidal current turbines in Pentland Firth (UK) [83,84].…”

Section: Fvcom Was Developed By Massachusetts University Researchers mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Software Tools to Study the Energetic Potential of Tidal Currents

et al. 2019

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Tides can be a vast and predictable source of renewable energy. Due to the solar and lunar influx on our planet, they move large amounts of water periodically, and this energy can be harnessed using devices designed and positioned adequately, such as current turbines. However, the relation between the energy obtained with actual devices and the economic and environmental cost of their installation limits the practical application of these solutions. In order to optimize the design of this technology and achieve its successful installation and use, a detailed knowledge about the energy potential of tides at the specific location is necessary. This calculation is not easy and requires the use of specialized software tools. Currently, there is no specific software to evaluate the tidal currents energy potential, but there are more than a few codes able to calculate the hydraulic flow in rivers, estuaries and coastal regions. These programs are usually used for the calculation of pollutant dispersion and floods, but they can be adapted with more or less success. This paper reviews the available 1D, 2D, and 3D software tools with the aim of analyzing their functionality and their validity to evaluate the energy potential of tidal currents.

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Modelling tidal stream turbines in a three-dimensional wave-current fully coupled oceanographic model

Cited by 41 publications

References 32 publications

Comparative Effects of Climate Change and Tidal Stream Energy Extraction in a Shelf Sea

Comparative Effects of Climate Change and Tidal Stream Energy Extraction in a Shelf Sea

Review of tidal turbine wake modelling methods

A Review of Software Tools to Study the Energetic Potential of Tidal Currents

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