The Influence of Intra-Array Wake Dynamics on Depth-Averaged Kinetic Tidal Turbine Energy Extraction Simulations

Marco Piano, Peter E. Robins, Alan G. Davies and Simon P. Neill
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Marco Piano: Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, Marine Centre Wales, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
Peter E. Robins: School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
Alan G. Davies: Centre for Applied Marine Sciences, Marine Centre Wales, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
Simon P. Neill: School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: Assessing the tidal stream energy resource, its intermittency and likely environmental feedbacks due to energy extraction, relies on the ability to accurately represent kinetic losses in ocean models. Energy conversion has often been implemented in ocean models with enhanced turbine stress terms formulated using an array-averaging approach, rather than implementing extraction at device-scale. In depth-averaged models, an additional drag term in the momentum equations is usually applied. However, such array-averaging simulations neglect intra-array device wake interactions, providing unrealistic energy extraction dynamics. Any induced simulation error will increase with array size. For this study, an idealized channel is discretized at sub 10 m resolution, resolving individual device wake profiles of tidal turbines in the domain. Sensitivity analysis is conducted on the applied turbulence closure scheme, validating results against published data from empirical scaled turbine studies. We test the fine scale model performance of several mesh densities, which produce a centerline velocity wake deficit accuracy (R 2 ) of 0.58–0.69 (RMSE = 7.16–8.28%) using a k-? turbulence closure scheme. Various array configurations at device scale are simulated and compared with an equivalent array-averaging approach by analyzing channel flux differential. Parametrization of array-averaging energy extraction techniques can misrepresent simulated energy transfer and removal. The potential peak error in channel flux exceeds 0.5% when the number of turbines n TECs ≈ 25 devices. This error exceeds 2% when simulating commercial-scale turbine array farms (i.e., >100 devices).

Keywords: marine renewable energy; tidal energy extraction; tidal stream turbine simulations; telemac coastal model; intra array wake dynamics; wake turbulence; turbine parameterization; kinetic tidal power (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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