Simulator research could aid the design of tidal turbines

The EPSRC-funded project will aim at solutions that find a compromise between energy generating efficiency and environmental impact in terms of turbulence and sediment motion.

Tidal turbines apply roughly the same principles as wind turbines but using the more predictable and larger energy density of tide flows.

However, it is known that flow passing by tidal turbines support structures combined with the rotation of the turbine rotors produces a turbulent downstream wake that can impact the stability of sediments.

Because of knowledge gaps in predicting the sea-bed response, developers of tidal projects have to carry out costly environmental monitoring programmes in order to obtain environmental permission.

Hull University currently runs a ‘total environment simulator’ at The Deep public aquarium on the Humberside coast. It contains a unique flume facility 16m in length, 6m wide and 1.6m deep, in which powerful pumps generate a flow rate of 1m³ per second. It also has the capability to generate waves of different frequencies and directions that can overlap in a random fashion.