Numerical assessment of the potential stream energy extraction of a tidal lagoon inlet

Abstract

A hypothetical hydrodynamic basin that imitated the Nador lagoon with its inlet was developed to estimate the potential stream energy of the Nador lagoon during a one-month hydrodynamic simulation. The water level rise in the numerical basin was investigated using a depth-averaged hydrodynamic model. The model is based on an unstructured finite volume method to solve the hyperbolic shallow water equations. The method uses an efficient Riemann solver that is balanced with bottom elevation to approximate the convective term. A second Runge-Kutta technique is used to guarantee time marching. Numerical experiments were made to calibrate the model by controlling the bottom frictions in order to simulate the hydrodynamic behaviors. The numerical results of tidal elevation are compared with those from field observations. Good agreements between the numerical model and measurements data were founded. Corresponding current velocity is then used to evaluate potential energy extraction. The results show that the candidate site holds a power density that can achieve 1.246 KW/m2.