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Towards a Low-Cost Modelling System for Optimising the Layout of Tidal Turbine Arrays

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  • Stephen Nash

    (College of Engineering & Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
    Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI), National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway, Ireland)

  • Agnieszka I. Olbert

    (College of Engineering & Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
    Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI), National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway, Ireland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Michael Hartnett

    (College of Engineering & Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
    Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI), National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway, Ireland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

In the long-term, tidal turbines will most likely be deployed in farms/arrays where energy extraction by one turbine may significantly affect the energy available to another turbine. Given the prohibitive cost of experimental and/or field investigations of such turbine interactions, numerical models can play a significant role in determining the optimum layout of tidal turbine arrays with respect to energy capture. In the present research, a low-cost modelling solution for optimising turbine array layouts is presented and assessed. Nesting is used in a far-field model to telescope spatial resolution down to the scale of the turbines within the turbine array, allowing simulation of the interactions between adjacent turbines as well as the hydrodynamic impacts of individual turbines. The turbines are incorporated as momentum sinks. The results show that the model can compute turbine wakes with similar far-field spatial extents and velocity deficits to those measured in published experimental studies. The results show that optimum spacings for multi-row arrays with regard to power yield are 3–4 rotor diameters (RD) across-stream and 1–4 RD along-stream, and that turbines in downstream rows should be staggered to avoid wake effects of upstream turbines and to make use of the accelerated flows induced by adjacent upstream turbines.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Nash & Agnieszka I. Olbert & Michael Hartnett, 2015. "Towards a Low-Cost Modelling System for Optimising the Layout of Tidal Turbine Arrays," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:8:y:2015:i:12:p:12380-13539:d:59577
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Nash, S. & Phoenix, A., 2017. "A review of the current understanding of the hydro-environmental impacts of energy removal by tidal turbines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 648-662.

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