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A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites

Thomas Lake Orcid Logo, David Glasby, Jose Horrillo-Caraballo, Michael Togneri Orcid Logo, Ian Masters Orcid Logo, Martin Austin, Ben Lincoln

International Marine Energy Journal, Volume: 7, Issue: 1, Pages: 11 - 24

Swansea University Authors: Thomas Lake Orcid Logo, David Glasby, Jose Horrillo-Caraballo, Michael Togneri Orcid Logo, Ian Masters Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.36688/imej.7.11-24

Abstract

Traditional Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) instruments measure marine flow velocities along diverging acoustic beams. This allows estimation of approximate mean velocity and turbulence at a point between the beams. Alternatively, a converging beam instrument can measure velocity components...

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Published in: International Marine Energy Journal
ISSN: 2631-5548
Published: European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 2024
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70350
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This allows estimation of approximate mean velocity and turbulence at a point between the beams. Alternatively, a converging beam instrument can measure velocity components at a single point and hence provide a higher quality measurement. Here we show a new design of instrument with converging beams together with some preliminary flow measurement results.The instrument is constructed around a triangular frame with Doppler transceivers on the ends of cable stayed arms. It is designed to be installed and recovered from the seabed without use of a crane vessel. This is achieved by a pressurised air buoyancy system. The system can be slipway launched with a boat trailer and flat packed for transport on the same trailer. The system performed well for three test deployments; however, measurements of the seabed stability of the frame showed undesirable flexing of one arm when it was positioned perpendicular to the main flow direction.A traditional ADCP was located on the frame and the two instruments were operated in burst mode, with each instrument measuring alternately every 20 minutes. Results for velocity and turbulent kinetic energy at the same depth are reported for both instruments and compared. A 2D oceanographic model of the deployment site is used as an additional point of comparison to illuminate some differences in the mean flow velocity observations of both instruments.This instrument will add significantly to measurement capabilities at tidal stream turbine deployment locations. Improved turbulence measurements will give better understanding of turbine loading and hence improve reliability of these systems. 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spelling 2025-10-31T12:26:22.3451885 v2 70350 2025-09-15 A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites be1d57f705e41548bf1f1ef6551acc90 0000-0003-3045-3652 Thomas Lake Thomas Lake true false 5e4b6c78d6d29689f87fb0a76c646bc6 David Glasby David Glasby true false 5166f9cd40b7c8628375d3f22d1c473c Jose Horrillo-Caraballo Jose Horrillo-Caraballo true false 7032d5a521c181cea18dbb759e1ffdeb 0000-0002-6820-1680 Michael Togneri Michael Togneri true false 6fa19551092853928cde0e6d5fac48a1 0000-0001-7667-6670 Ian Masters Ian Masters true false 2025-09-15 ACEM Traditional Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) instruments measure marine flow velocities along diverging acoustic beams. This allows estimation of approximate mean velocity and turbulence at a point between the beams. Alternatively, a converging beam instrument can measure velocity components at a single point and hence provide a higher quality measurement. Here we show a new design of instrument with converging beams together with some preliminary flow measurement results.The instrument is constructed around a triangular frame with Doppler transceivers on the ends of cable stayed arms. It is designed to be installed and recovered from the seabed without use of a crane vessel. This is achieved by a pressurised air buoyancy system. The system can be slipway launched with a boat trailer and flat packed for transport on the same trailer. The system performed well for three test deployments; however, measurements of the seabed stability of the frame showed undesirable flexing of one arm when it was positioned perpendicular to the main flow direction.A traditional ADCP was located on the frame and the two instruments were operated in burst mode, with each instrument measuring alternately every 20 minutes. Results for velocity and turbulent kinetic energy at the same depth are reported for both instruments and compared. A 2D oceanographic model of the deployment site is used as an additional point of comparison to illuminate some differences in the mean flow velocity observations of both instruments.This instrument will add significantly to measurement capabilities at tidal stream turbine deployment locations. Improved turbulence measurements will give better understanding of turbine loading and hence improve reliability of these systems. The unit can also be used to deploy different types of sensors for oceanographic measurements. Journal Article International Marine Energy Journal 7 1 11 24 European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 2631-5548 Doppler instrument, tidal stream, marine turbulence 31 7 2024 2024-07-31 10.36688/imej.7.11-24 COLLEGE NANME Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering COLLEGE CODE ACEM Swansea University Other This work was supported by the SELKIE project funded by theEuropean Regional Development Fund through the Ireland WalesCooperation programme; the WTIMTS project, funded by EPSRC viathe Supergen ORE Hub Flexible Funding scheme, EP/S000747/1;and by the MEECE project funded by the European Regional De-velopment Fund and the UK & Welsh governments through theSwansea Bay City Deal. 2025-10-31T12:26:22.3451885 2025-09-15T10:11:30.7797274 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Thomas Lake 0000-0003-3045-3652 1 David Glasby 2 Jose Horrillo-Caraballo 3 Michael Togneri 0000-0002-6820-1680 4 Ian Masters 0000-0001-7667-6670 5 Martin Austin 6 Ben Lincoln 7 70350__35520__640955197afa45ccbabe79fe5bcfd0e8.pdf 70350.VoR.pdf 2025-10-31T12:23:18.8430146 Output 46406456 application/pdf Version of Record true Copyright (c) 2024 Tom Lake, David Glasby, Jose Horrillo-Caraballo, Michael Togneri, Ian Masters, Martin Austin, Ben Lincoln. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
spellingShingle A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
Thomas Lake
David Glasby
Jose Horrillo-Caraballo
Michael Togneri
Ian Masters
title_short A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
title_full A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
title_fullStr A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
title_full_unstemmed A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
title_sort A low-cost, high-fidelity converging-beam Doppler instrument for measuring velocity and turbulence at tidal energy sites
author_id_str_mv be1d57f705e41548bf1f1ef6551acc90
5e4b6c78d6d29689f87fb0a76c646bc6
5166f9cd40b7c8628375d3f22d1c473c
7032d5a521c181cea18dbb759e1ffdeb
6fa19551092853928cde0e6d5fac48a1
author_id_fullname_str_mv be1d57f705e41548bf1f1ef6551acc90_***_Thomas Lake
5e4b6c78d6d29689f87fb0a76c646bc6_***_David Glasby
5166f9cd40b7c8628375d3f22d1c473c_***_Jose Horrillo-Caraballo
7032d5a521c181cea18dbb759e1ffdeb_***_Michael Togneri
6fa19551092853928cde0e6d5fac48a1_***_Ian Masters
author Thomas Lake
David Glasby
Jose Horrillo-Caraballo
Michael Togneri
Ian Masters
author2 Thomas Lake
David Glasby
Jose Horrillo-Caraballo
Michael Togneri
Ian Masters
Martin Austin
Ben Lincoln
format Journal article
container_title International Marine Energy Journal
container_volume 7
container_issue 1
container_start_page 11
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
issn 2631-5548
doi_str_mv 10.36688/imej.7.11-24
publisher European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Traditional Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) instruments measure marine flow velocities along diverging acoustic beams. This allows estimation of approximate mean velocity and turbulence at a point between the beams. Alternatively, a converging beam instrument can measure velocity components at a single point and hence provide a higher quality measurement. Here we show a new design of instrument with converging beams together with some preliminary flow measurement results.The instrument is constructed around a triangular frame with Doppler transceivers on the ends of cable stayed arms. It is designed to be installed and recovered from the seabed without use of a crane vessel. This is achieved by a pressurised air buoyancy system. The system can be slipway launched with a boat trailer and flat packed for transport on the same trailer. The system performed well for three test deployments; however, measurements of the seabed stability of the frame showed undesirable flexing of one arm when it was positioned perpendicular to the main flow direction.A traditional ADCP was located on the frame and the two instruments were operated in burst mode, with each instrument measuring alternately every 20 minutes. Results for velocity and turbulent kinetic energy at the same depth are reported for both instruments and compared. A 2D oceanographic model of the deployment site is used as an additional point of comparison to illuminate some differences in the mean flow velocity observations of both instruments.This instrument will add significantly to measurement capabilities at tidal stream turbine deployment locations. Improved turbulence measurements will give better understanding of turbine loading and hence improve reliability of these systems. The unit can also be used to deploy different types of sensors for oceanographic measurements.
published_date 2024-07-31T05:30:38Z
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score 11.089386

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