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, Stephen M..; Amoudry, Laurent O..; Ramirez-Mendoza, Rafael.; Thorne, Peter D..

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033

Authors

Xiaorong Li

Ming Li

Dr Stuart McLelland S.J.McLelland@hull.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography

Laura Beth Jordan

Dr Steve Simmons S.Simmons@hull.ac.uk
Research Associate

Laurent O. Amoudry

Rafael Ramirez-Mendoza

Peter D. Thorne

Abstract

© 2017 The Author(s) 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/m 2 corresponding to the critical stress of a range of fine gravel and finer sediment particles).

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	2017-12
Journal	Renewable Energy
Print ISSN	0960-1481
Electronic ISSN	1879-0682
Publisher	Elsevier
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	114
Pages	297-307
Institution Citation	Li, X., Li, M., McLelland, S. J., Jordan, L. B., Simmons, S. M., Amoudry, L. O., …Thorne, P. D. (2017). Modelling tidal stream turbines in a three-dimensional wave-current fully coupled oceanographic model. Renewable energy, 114, 297-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.033
Keywords	Tidal stream energy; Three-dimensional; Oceanographic model
Publisher URL	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148117301192?via%3Dihub
Copyright Statement	© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).