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A Review of Software Tools to Study the Energetic Potential of Tidal Currents

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  • María José Suárez-López

    (Universidad de Oviedo, EDZE (Energía), Campus de Viesques, 33203 Gijón (Asturias), Spain)

  • Rodolfo Espina-Valdés

    (Universidad de Oviedo, EDZE (Energía), Campus de Viesques, 33203 Gijón (Asturias), Spain)

  • Víctor Manuel Fernández Pacheco

    (Universidad de Oviedo, EDZE (Energía), Campus de Viesques, 33203 Gijón (Asturias), Spain)

  • Antonio Navarro Manso

    (Universidad de Oviedo, EDZE (Energía), Campus de Viesques, 33203 Gijón (Asturias), Spain)

  • Eduardo Blanco-Marigorta

    (Universidad de Oviedo, EDZE (Energía), Campus de Viesques, 33203 Gijón (Asturias), Spain)

  • Eduardo Álvarez-Álvarez

    (Universidad de Oviedo, EDZE (Energía), Campus de Viesques, 33203 Gijón (Asturias), Spain)

Abstract

Tides can be a vast and predictable source of renewable energy. Due to the solar and lunar influx on our planet, they move large amounts of water periodically, and this energy can be harnessed using devices designed and positioned adequately, such as current turbines. However, the relation between the energy obtained with actual devices and the economic and environmental cost of their installation limits the practical application of these solutions. In order to optimize the design of this technology and achieve its successful installation and use, a detailed knowledge about the energy potential of tides at the specific location is necessary. This calculation is not easy and requires the use of specialized software tools. Currently, there is no specific software to evaluate the tidal currents energy potential, but there are more than a few codes able to calculate the hydraulic flow in rivers, estuaries and coastal regions. These programs are usually used for the calculation of pollutant dispersion and floods, but they can be adapted with more or less success. This paper reviews the available 1D, 2D, and 3D software tools with the aim of analyzing their functionality and their validity to evaluate the energy potential of tidal currents.

Suggested Citation

  • María José Suárez-López & Rodolfo Espina-Valdés & Víctor Manuel Fernández Pacheco & Antonio Navarro Manso & Eduardo Blanco-Marigorta & Eduardo Álvarez-Álvarez, 2019. "A Review of Software Tools to Study the Energetic Potential of Tidal Currents," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:9:p:1673-:d:227867
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    References listed on IDEAS

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