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

Li, Xiaorong; Li, Ming; McLelland, Stuart; Jordan, Laura-Beth; Amoudry, Laurent; Ramirez Mendoza, Rafael; Thorne, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4261-0937. 2017 Modelling tidal stream turbines in a three-dimensional wave-current fully coupled oceanographic model. Renewable Energy, 114 (A). 297-307. 10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033

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Abstract/Summary

A tidal turbine simulation system is developed based on a three-dimensional oceanographic numerical model. Both the current and turbulent controlling equations are modified to account for impact of tidal turbines on water velocity and turbulence generation and dissipation. High resolution mesh size at the turbine location is assigned in order to capture the details of hydrodynamics due to the turbine operation. The system is tested against comprehensive measurements in a water flume experiment and results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The validation results suggest that the new modelling system is proven to be able to accurately simulate hydrodynamics with the presence of turbines. The developed turbine simulation system is then applied to a series of test cases in which a standalone turbine is deployed. Here, complete velocity profiles and mixing are realized that could not have been produced in a standard two-dimensional treatment. Of particular interest in these cases is an observed accelerated flow near the bed in the wake of the turbine, leading to enhanced bottom shear stress (∼2 N/m2 corresponding to the critical stress of a range of fine gravel and finer sediment particles).

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033
ISSN:	09601481
Additional Keywords:	Tidal stream energy; Three-dimensional; Oceanographic model
Date made live:	20 Feb 2017 16:17 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516267

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033

ISSN:

09601481

Additional Keywords:

Tidal stream energy; Three-dimensional; Oceanographic model

Date made live:

20 Feb 2017 16:17 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/516267