Abstract
Coastal infrastructure, such as bridges and storm surge barriers with weirs, provides an attractive location for harvesting renewable energy using tidal turbines. Often stone layers are applied downstream of coastal infrastructure to protect the sea bed from erosion. However, little is known about the potential effect of tidal energy extraction on the stability of this granular bed protection. This paper describes a study of the flow conditions influencing the stability of the bed protection downstream of a weir-mounted tidal turbine, using hydrodynamic data of an experimental test. The analysis indicates that the flow recirculation zone downstream of a weir may become shorter and flatter due to the presence of a horizontal-axis turbine. As a result, energetic turbulence eddies can transport more horizontal momentum towards the bed – hence the reason a heavier bed protection may be required for granular beds downstream of weirs when a turbine is installed. This information is essential when designing safe bed protections for coastal infrastructure with tidal turbines.
Highlights
Harvesting of renewable energy using tidal turbines is an attractive, but still expensive, sustainable alternative to conventional ways of energy production
The turbines can be installed in coastal infrastructure, such as bridges or open storm surge barriers, to bring down the costs compared to offshore deployments
Often stone layers are applied downstream of coastal structures as erosion protection, but little is known about the potential effect of tidal energy extraction on the stability of this granular bed protection
Summary
Harvesting of renewable energy using tidal turbines is an attractive, but still expensive, sustainable alternative to conventional ways of energy production. The turbines can be installed in coastal infrastructure, such as bridges or open storm surge barriers, to bring down the costs compared to offshore deployments. Coastal structures constrict the tidal flow leading to relatively strong local currents - favouring a large energy yield and connect to the shore, facilitating a grid power connection. Often stone layers are applied downstream of coastal structures as erosion protection, but little is known about the potential effect of tidal energy extraction on the stability of this granular bed protection. Since 2015, five horizontal-axis turbines (1.2 MW in total) have been operating in the storm surge barrier of the Eastern Scheldt tidal basin [1]. The barrier protects the South-Western part of the Netherlands from coastal
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