Sheared turbulent flows and wake dynamics of an idled floating tidal turbine

Lieber, L, Fraser, S, Coles, D and Nimmo-Smith, WAM 2024 Sheared turbulent flows and wake dynamics of an idled floating tidal turbine. Nature Communications, 15, 8244. 17, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52578-x

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Abstract/Summary

Ocean energy extraction is on the rise. While tides are the most predictable amongst marine renewable resources, turbulent and complex flows still challenge reliable tidal stream energy extraction and there is also uncertainty in how devices change the natural environment. To ensure the long-term integrity of emergent floating tidal turbine technologies, advances in field measurements are required to capture multiscale, real-world flow interactions. Here we use aerial drones and acoustic profiling transects to quantify the site- and scale-dependent complexities of actual turbulent flows around an idled, utility-scale floating tidal turbine (20 m rotor diameter, D). The combined spatial resolution of our baseline measurements is sufficiently high to quantify sheared, turbulent inflow conditions (reversed shear profiles, turbulence intensity >20%, and turbulence length scales > 0.4D). We also detect downstream velocity deficits (approaching 20% at 4D) and trace the far-wake propagation using acoustic backscattering techniques in excess of 30D. Addressing the energy-environment nexus, our oceanographic lens on flow characterisation will help to validate multiscale flow physics around offshore energy platforms that have thus far only been simulated

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	fluid dynamics, mechanical engineering, physical oceanography, power stations, renewable energy
Subjects:	Marine Sciences Oceanography Technology
Divisions:	Marine Biological Association of the UK > Other (MBA)
Depositing User:	Ms Kristina Hixon
Date made live:	27 Sep 2024 08:35
Last Modified:	27 Sep 2024 08:35
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10298

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