A Numerical Methodology to Predict the Maximum Power Output of Tidal Stream Arrays

Abstract

Due to its high level of consistency and predictability, tidal stream energy is a feasible and promising type of renewable energy for future development and investment. Numerical modeling of tidal farms is a challenging task. Many studies have shown the applicability of the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) method for modeling the interaction of turbines in tidal arrays. Apart from its well-known capabilities, there is a scarcity of research using BEM to model tidal stream energy farms. Therefore, the main aim of this numerical study is to simulate a full-scale array in a real geographical position. A fundamental linear relationship to estimate the power capture of full-scale turbines using available kinetic energy flux is being explored. For this purpose, a real site for developing a tidal farm on the southern coasts of Iran is selected. Then, a numerical methodology is validated and calibrated for the established farm by analyzing an array of turbines. A linear equation is proposed to calculate the tidal power of marine hydrokinetic turbines. The results indicate that the difference between the predicted value and the actual power does not exceed 6%.

Study on Critical Factors Affecting Tidal Current Energy Exploitation in the Guishan Channel Area of Zhoushan

“…The grid division encrypts the grid of the Zhoushan Island boundary and Hangzhou Bay inlet. Referring to the relevant literature [21], the grid of the boundary area in the outer sea is appropriately sparse, and the maximum grid size is about 3000 m after debugging, which can reduce the computational volume of the model without affecting the accuracy. The minimum grid size is controlled at about 150 m, which can reflect relatively more realistic changes in the fine flow field over the study area.…”

“…There is little analysis of the tidal current characteristics that specifically affect tidal current energy development. In the study of G. Iglesias et al [20], an attempt was made to combine bathymetry and current velocity with tidal stream exploitability (TSE) to select suitable tidal current energy development sites; Soheil Radfar et al [21] proposed a linear equation to calculate the energy capture in the tidal stream arrays. However, tidal currents are a complex hydrodynamic process, and there are many other key factors affecting tidal current energy development.…”

Developing an Extended Virtual Blade Model for Efficient Numerical Modeling of Wind and Tidal Farms

“…Santos et al [50] studied the wake characteristics and configuration of the HATTs in a river channel and obtained wake lengths between 7 and 9 diameters. Recently, reference [51] adapted VBM to study an array of HATTs and developed a linear methodology to predict the maximum power output of the turbines based on available kinetic energy flux at 1D upstream of HATTs. Reference [52] conducted a literature review on different approaches for wake characterization of hydrokinetic converters, including BEM.…”

“…and Multiphase and Cardiovascular Flow Lab at the University of Washington [72] are used to validate the developed model for a single turbine case. The general settings and adapted numerical schemes are based on the previous study of the authors ( [51]) on MHK turbines. In our model, inlet and outlet boundaries are modeled as velocity inlet and pressure outlet, respectively (see Figure 3).…”

“…The mesh is structured in most of the computational domain except for the regions close to the nacelles. This study's resolution of mesh needed for a mesh-independent solution is based on the developments in [51]. The user should pay attention to avoid duplicate faces in the meshing of the rotor zone.…”