Journal article 1475 views 216 downloads
Comparison of ADCP observations and 3D model simulations of turbulence at a tidal energy site
Michael Togneri 
,
Matt Lewis,
Simon Neill,
Ian Masters
,
Matt Lewis,
Simon Neill,
Ian Masters
Renewable Energy, Volume: 114, Pages: 273 - 282
Swansea University Authors:
Michael Togneri , Ian Masters
DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.061
Abstract
Field measurement of turbulence in strong tidal currents is difficult and expensive, but the tidal energy industry needs to accurately quantify turbulence for adequate resource characterisation and device design. Models that can predict such turbulence could reduce measurement costs. We compare a Re...
| Published in: | Renewable Energy |
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| ISSN: | 0960-1481 |
| Published: |
2017
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa32173 |
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| Abstract: |
Field measurement of turbulence in strong tidal currents is difficult and expensive, but the tidal energy industry needs to accurately quantify turbulence for adequate resource characterisation and device design. Models that can predict such turbulence could reduce measurement costs. We compare a Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) simulation with acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements from a highly-energetic tidal site. This comparison shows the extent to which turbulence can be quantified by ROMS, using the conventional k−ε turbulence closure model. Both model and observations covered the same time period, encompassing two spring-neap cycles. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) density was calculated from measurements using the variance method; turbulent dissipation, ε, was calculated using the structure function method. Measurements show that wave action dominates turbulent fluctuations in the upper half of the water column; comparing results for deeper water, however, shows very strong agreement. A best fit between ROMS and ADCP results for mean velocity yields R2=0.98; for TKE, R2 is 0.84 when strongly wave-dominated times are excluded. Dissipation agrees less well: although time series of ε are well-correlated at similar depths, ROMS estimates a greater magnitude of dissipation than is measured, by a factor of up to 4.8. |
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| Item Description: |
a. The author made a substantial contribution to the conception and design of the study;and to analysis and interpretation of study data.andb. The author drafted the output;Output has been reviewed with minor revisions and is awaiting final decision. |
| Keywords: |
ADCP, ROMS, marine turbulence, TKE, turbulent dissipation, tidal power |
| Start Page: |
273 |
| End Page: |
282 |