Abstract
Tidal stream speeds in straits are accelerated because of geographic and bathymetric features. For instance, narrow channels and shallows can cause high tidal stream energy. In this study, water level and tidal current were simulated using a three-dimensional semi-implicit Eulerian-Lagrangian finite-element model to investigate the complex tidal characteristics in the Taiwan Strait and to determine potential locations for harnessing tidal stream energy. The model was driven by nine tidal components (M2, S2, N2, K2, K1, O1, P1, Q1, and M4) at open boundaries. The modeling results were validated with the measured data, including water level and tidal current. Through the model simulations, we found that the highest tidal currents occurred at the Penghu Channel in the Taiwan Strait. The Penghu Channel is an appropriate location for the deployment of a tidal turbine array because of its deep and flat bathymetry. The impacts of energy extraction on hydrodynamics were assessed by considering the momentum sink approach. The simulated results indicate that only minimal impacts would occur on water level and tidal current in the Taiwan Strait if a turbine array (55 turbines) was installed in the Penghu Channel.
Highlights
IntroductionTraditional fossil fuel energy sources, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, have been explored and used in great amounts since the Industrial Revolution and are gradually depleting
Traditional fossil fuel energy sources, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, have been explored and used in great amounts since the Industrial Revolution and are gradually depleting.traditional energy sources can cause environmental impacts, such as the greenhouse effect and environmental pollution, making reduced dependence on these sources a widespread goal.Renewable energies are sustainable and clean energy sources that offer the potential to mitigate the depletion of traditional fossil fuels and their associated environmental impacts, while resolving the issues of economic development and environmental protection
An existing finite element numerical model was refined by adding an algorithm to compute the power density and assess the influence of a turbine array on the hydrodynamics
Summary
Traditional fossil fuel energy sources, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, have been explored and used in great amounts since the Industrial Revolution and are gradually depleting. Projects using tidal barrages to produce energy result in extensive environmental impacts, including potential effects on coastal ecosystems and fisheries, disruption of navigation, and high capital costs This situation has changed with recent developments in turbine technology, which allow the production of electricity using tidal streams. Tidal current energy has several advantages, including the high predictability of tides, the high power density of water flow, the development of turbine technology, the lower investment relative to barrage structures, and the lower ecological impact compared with large hydraulic structures [5]. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the tidal stream energy resources around the Penghu Islands and the impacts of energy extraction on hydrodynamics in the Taiwan Strait using a refined three-dimensional hydrodynamic model.
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