Modeling Evaluation of Tidal Stream Energy and the Impacts of Energy Extraction on Hydrodynamics in the Taiwan Strait

Wei-Bo Chen, Wen-Cheng Liu and Ming-Hsi Hsu
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Wei-Bo Chen: National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction, New Taipei City 23143, Taiwan
Wen-Cheng Liu: Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36003, Taiwan
Ming-Hsi Hsu: Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36003, Taiwan

Energies, 2013, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Tidal stream speeds in straits are accelerated because of geographic and bathymetric features. For instance, narrow channels and shallows can cause high tidal stream energy. In this study, water level and tidal current were simulated using a three-dimensional semi-implicit Eulerian-Lagrangian finite-element model to investigate the complex tidal characteristics in the Taiwan Strait and to determine potential locations for harnessing tidal stream energy. The model was driven by nine tidal components (M 2 , S 2 , N 2 , K 2 , K 1 , O 1 , P 1 , Q 1 , and M 4 ) at open boundaries. The modeling results were validated with the measured data, including water level and tidal current. Through the model simulations, we found that the highest tidal currents occurred at the Penghu Channel in the Taiwan Strait. The Penghu Channel is an appropriate location for the deployment of a tidal turbine array because of its deep and flat bathymetry. The impacts of energy extraction on hydrodynamics were assessed by considering the momentum sink approach. The simulated results indicate that only minimal impacts would occur on water level and tidal current in the Taiwan Strait if a turbine array (55 turbines) was installed in the Penghu Channel.

Keywords: tidal stream speeds; momentum sink approach; numerical modeling; Taiwan Strait; Penghu Channel (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: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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