Tidal Turbines’ Layout in a Stream with Asymmetry and Misalignment

Nicolas Guillou and Georges Chapalain
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Nicolas Guillou: Laboratoire de Génie Côtier et Environnement (LGCE), Cerema, Direction Eau Mer et Fleuves, ER, 155 rue Pierre Bouguer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, BP 5, 29280 Plouzané, France
Georges Chapalain: Laboratoire de Génie Côtier et Environnement (LGCE), Cerema, Direction Eau Mer et Fleuves, ER, 155 rue Pierre Bouguer, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, BP 5, 29280 Plouzané, France

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: A refined assessment of tidal currents variability is a prerequisite for successful turbine deployment in the marine environment. However, the numerical evaluation of the tidal kinetic energy resource relies, most of the time, on integrated parameters, such as the averaged or maximum stream powers. Predictions from a high resolution three-dimensional model are exploited here to characterize the asymmetry and misalignment between the flood and ebb tidal currents in the “Raz de Sein”, a strait off western Brittany (France) with strong potential for array development. A series of parameters is considered to assess resource variability and refine the cartography of local potential tidal stream energy sites. The strait is characterized by strong tidal flow divergence with currents’ asymmetry liable to vary output power by 60% over a tidal cycle. Pronounced misalignments over 20 ? are furthermore identified in a great part of energetic locations, and this may account for a deficit of the monthly averaged extractable energy by more than 12%. As sea space is limited for turbines, it is finally suggested to aggregate flood and ebb-dominant stream powers on both parts of the strait to output energy with reduced asymmetry.

Keywords: tidal stream power; resource optimization; tidal eddies; tidal strait; numerical modeling; TELEMAC 3D (EDF R&D, France); western Brittany; Sein (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: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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