Tidal Turbines' Layout in a Stream with Asymmetry and Misalignment
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Tidal Turbines’ Layout in a Stream with Asymmetry and Misalignment Nicolas Guillou, Georges Chapalain To cite this version: Nicolas Guillou, Georges Chapalain. Tidal Turbines’ Layout in a Stream with Asymmetry and Mis- alignment. Energies, MDPI, 2017, 10 (11), 10.3390/en10111892. hal-01672248 HAL Id: hal-01672248 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01672248 Submitted on 19 Feb 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. energies Article Tidal Turbines’ Layout in a Stream with Asymmetry and Misalignment Nicolas Guillou* and 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; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +33-(0)2-98-05-67-39 Received: 17 October 2017; Accepted: 11 November 2017; Published: 17 November 2017 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 1. Introduction The hydro-kinetic energy of tidal currents has the potential to contribute to a significant part of the exploitation of marine renewable resources in industrial countries, bringing a highly predictable power with reduced visual impacts for coastal users and communities [1]. Successful deployments of tidal kinetic energy converters require accurate resource assessments to optimize the performance, design and location of devices while reducing investor risks and improving governments energy plans. Regional sites’ selection relies usually on GIS (Geographic Information Systems) decision-aid tools to conduct a multi-criteria analysis of the physical, environmental, practical and economical constraints of tidal energy projects [2–4]. As extensive in situ observations cannot reasonably encompass the tidal hydrodynamics conditions at the regional scale, the associated resource assessments rely, most of the time, on numerical modeling tools. Besides the uncertainty of these large-scale predictions [5–7], these resource assessments consider generally a restricted number of parameters, primarily the averaged and maximum amplitude of tidal current and associated stream power, setting aside further studies about the spatial and temporal variability of available kinetic energy. However, refined investigations of tidal current variabilities are fundamental in the early stages of devices’ development, focusing, in particular, on the variations of current amplitude and directions between flood and ebb (asymmetry and misalignment). Indeed, as stream power output is related to the velocity cubed, tidal current asymmetry may strongly impact the extractable energy over a tidal cycle, by modifying the available kinetic energy between the flood and ebb phases. On the basis Energies 2017, 10, 1892; doi:10.3390/en10111892 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies Version October 11, 2017 submitted to Energies 2 of 15 ¿4 the velocity cubed, tidal current asymmetry may strongly impact the extractable energy over a tidal ¿5 cycle, by modifying the available kinetic energy between the flood and ebb phases. On the basis of ¿6 a circulation model in the Orkney archipelago (Scotland, United-Kingdom), Neill et al. [8] reported Energies 2017 10 ¿7 thus that, , 1892a 30 % asymmetry in tidal current velocity results in a 100 % asymmetry in power density.2 of 14 ¿8 Rectilinear misalignment between the flood and ebb current directions may furthermore impact the ¿9 performance of horizontal-axis turbines, designed to harvest uni-directional flow. By relying on of a circulation model in the Orkney archipelago (Scotland, UK), Neill et al. [8] reported thus that a 4¼ experimental data and a Blade Element Momentum (BEM) code, Galloway et al. [9] suggest that o 30%4½ asymmetrypower reductions in tidal may current be apparent velocity for turbine results yaw in a above100% 7.5asymmetrywith an approximate in power density. 20 % reduction Rectilinear o misalignment4¾ at 22.5 in between misalignment the flood directions. and ebb Further current effects directions may appear may on furthermore the capacity impactfactor and the structural performance o of horizontal-axis4¿ side loading [ turbines,10]. It is thus designed suggested to harvest that flow uni-directional deviations greater flow. than By 20 relyingfrom on the experimental axial turbine data and44 adirection Blade Element will compromise Momentum the structural (BEM) code, integrity Galloway of devices et al. [11 [].9] suggest that power reductions may 45 As tidal stream energy sites occupy, in a high proportion, restricted surfaces in the vicinity be apparent for turbine yaw above 7.5◦ with an approximate 20% reduction at 22.5◦ in misalignment 46 of headlands and straits characterised by complex coastline geometry and significant water-depths directions. Further effects may appear on the capacity factor and structural side loading [10]. It is thus 47 variations [12], numerical modelling at high-spatial resolution, below 100 m, are required to assess suggested that flow deviations greater than 20◦ from the axial turbine direction will compromise the 48 tidal stream power variability. However, except local studies such as simulations conducted by Neill structural integrity of devices [11]. 49 et al. [8] in Orkney archipelago, Lewis et al. [7] in the Irish sea or Guillou and Chapalain [13] 5¼ Asin tidalthe Fromveur stream Straitenergy (western sites occupy, Brittany, in France), a high few proportion, numerical modelling restricted have surfaces investigated in the the vicinity of5½ headlandsasymmetry and and straits misalignment characterized of tidal by currents, complex and coastlineits effects on geometry the generated and technical significant resource, water-depth at variations5¾ the scale [12], of numerical potential stream modeling energy atsites. high-spatial resolution, below 100 m, is required to assess tidal5¿ streamThe power present variability. investigation However, complements except these local studies studies by (1) assessing such as simulations tidal current variability conducted by Neill54 et(asymmetry al. [8] in Orkney and misalignment) archipelago, and Lewis associated et al. stream [7] in power the Irish and (2)sea identifying or Guillou the and optimal Chapalain areas [13] 55 for the implementation of tidal kinetic energy converters. The application is conducted in the “Raz in the Fromveur Strait (western Brittany, France), few numerical modeling studies have investigated 56 de Sein” (western Brittany, Figure 1), a region of interest for tidal array development along the coasts the asymmetry and misalignment of tidal currents and its effects on the generated technical resource, 57 of France (Section 2.1). The numerical approach is based on a three-dimensional (3D) circulation at the58 model scale of which potential computes stream at high-spatial energy sites. resolution the evolution of tidal current velocities in the area 59 Theof interest present (Section investigation2.2). Models complements predictions are these evaluated studies against by (1) available assessing in-s tidalitu measurements current variability of (asymmetry6¼ current and amplitude misalignment) and direction and in associated the vicinity streamof the “Raz power de Sein” and (Section (2) identifying3.1). This the local optimal assessment areas for the6½ implementationof model’s performance of tidal iskinetic supplemented energy converters. by a synoptic The compar applicationison with is established conducted database in the “Raz of de Sein”6¾ tidal (western currents. Brittany, Beyond Figure the cartography1), a region of of the interest annual for averag tidaled array and maximum development tidal along stream the powers coasts of France6¿ (Sections (Section3.2 2.1),). numerical