go to top scroll for more

Characterization of the tidal resource in Rathlin Sound


Citation Pérez-Ortiz, A., Borthwick, A.G.L., McNaughton, J. and Avdis, A. Characterization of the tidal resource in Rathlin Sound, Renewable Energy, 114 (A): 229-243, 2017. .
Cite this using DataCite
Author(s) Pérez-Ortiz, A., Borthwick, A.G.L., McNaughton, J. and Avdis, A.
Project partner(s) University of Edinburgh, General Electric Renewable Energy, Imperial College London
Publisher Renewable Energy, 114 (A): 229-243
DOI
Abstract Tidal resource assessment is presented for Rathlin Sound, located between Rathlin Island and the northeast coast of Northern Ireland. The flow is simulated in 2D, using the shallow water equations. For an M-2 tide, the natural flow conditions exhibit local spatial mean and maximum flow speeds of 2 and 3 m/s. Upper limits to power extraction are about 298 MW for M-2 and 330 MW for M-2+S-2 tidal signals (different to undisturbed kinetic power and power naturally dissipated at the seabed). An analytical model of a channel connecting two infinite ocean basins under-predicts maximum power extracted in Rathlin Sound due to changes in head driving the flow and the existence of an alternative flow path. At maximum power extracted, there is substantial reduction in mean flow speeds in the strait and to the south-east of Rathlin Sound. In the strait, maximum power is reduced by 14% and 36% for blockage ratios of 80% and 60%. Power extraction both offshore of the island and in the strait yields higher power generation rates than isolated extraction. Resource assessments for Rathlin Sound are generally in good agreement with those for an idealised strait between an island and landmass.

Highlights
  • Tidal resource characterization of Rathlin Sound, a coastal site defined as an island near a landmass.
  • Undisturbed kinetic or dissipated power do not approximate maximum power extracted.
  • Numerical results exceed those from an analytical channel model.
  • Reduction in strait blockage by tidal farm reduces the maximum power extracted.
  • Outcomes of Rathlin Sound agree with those of an idealised island near a landmass.
This work was partly funded via IDCORE, the Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy, which trains research engineers whose work in conjunction with sponsoring companies aims to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal-current technologies
Associated Project(s) ETI-MA2003: Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE)
Associated Dataset(s) No associated datasets
Associated Publication(s)

A model to map levelised cost of energy for wave energy projects

An Integrated Data Management Approach for Offshore Wind Turbine Failure Root Cause Analysis

An investigation of the effects of wind-induced inclination on floating wind turbine dynamics: heave plate excursion

Application of an offshore wind farm layout optimization methodology at Middelgrunden wind farm

Characterisation of current and turbulence in the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility

Comparison of Offshore Wind Farm Layout Optimization Using a Genetic Algorithm and a Particle Swarm Optimizer

Component reliability test approaches for marine renewable energy

Constraints Implementation in the Application of Reinforcement Learning to the Reactive Control of a Point Absorber

Control of a Realistic Wave Energy Converter Model Using Least-Squares Policy Iteration

Cost Reduction to Encourage Commercialisation of Marine in the UK

Cumulative impact assessment of tidal stream energy extraction in the Irish Sea

Design diagrams for wavelength discrepancy in tank testing with inconsistently scaled intermediate water depth

Development of a Condition Monitoring System for an Articulated Wave Energy Converter

Dynamic mooring simulation with Code(-)Aster with application to a floating wind turbine

ETI Insights Report - Wave Energy

Environmental interactions of tidal lagoons: A comparison of industry perspectives

Exploring Marine Energy Potential in the UK Using a Whole Systems Modelling Approach

Hybrid, Multi-Megawatt HVDC Transformer Topology Comparison for Future Offshore Wind Farms

Hydrodynamic analysis of a ducted, open centre tidal stream turbine using blade element momentum theory

Offshore wind farm electrical cable layout optimization

Offshore wind installation vessels - A comparative assessment for UK offshore rounds 1 and 2

Optimisation of Offshore Wind Farms Using a Genetic Algorithm

Quantifying uncertainty in acoustic measurements of tidal flows using a “Virtual” Doppler Current Profiler

Re-creation of site-specific multi-directional waves with non-collinear current

Reactive control of a two-body point absorber using reinforcement learning

Reactive control of a wave energy converter using artificial neural networks

Reliability and O & M sensitivity analysis as a consequence of site specific characteristics for wave energy converters

Reliability prediction for offshore renewable energy: Data driven insights

Resource characterization of sites in the vicinity of an island near a landmass

Review and application of Rainflow residue processing techniques for accurate fatigue damage estimation

Sensitivity analysis of offshore wind farm operation and maintenance cost and availability

Simulating Extreme Directional Wave Conditions

Testing Marine Renewable Energy Devices in an Advanced Multi-Directional Combined Wave-Current Environment

Testing the robustness of optimal access vessel fleet selection for operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms

The Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy(IDCORE) - Case Studies

The SPAIR method: Isolating incident and reflected directional wave spectra in multidirectional wave basins

The effects of wind-induced inclination on the dynamics ofsemi-submersible floating wind turbines in the time domain

The power-capture of a nearshore, modular, flap-type wave energy converter in regular waves

UK offshore wind cost optimisation: top head mass (Presentation to All Energy, 10th May 2017)