Siting assessment for Kinetic Energy Turbines: an emplacement study for sea and river applications

摘要: Abstract The siting and design of a Tidal Energy Converter (TEC) require the characterization flow velocity field acting in terms space time, order to assess hydrodynamic forces, calculate structural loading power capacity, also helping investment strategy project financing. In this framework, selection emplacement site is paramount importance for optimizing efficiency TEC. study, we propose assessment procedures TEC machines, comparing sea tidal with two rivers ones. Sites differ each other from geomorphological characteristics. Cook Inlet (South-Central Alaska) large subarctic estuary, which extends about 250 km Anchorage bay Pacific Ocean. Tidally dominated currents control hydrographic regime, water levels periodically influenced by tides Gulf Alaska, are significantly amplified as approaching bay. Chang Jiāng river (also named Yangtze, China) longest Asia third world, huge rate. Pearl River Estuary (China) has length 70 km, width 15 an average depth 4.8 m. It deeper than 20 m its eastern part, discharges into microtidal environment along northern shelf South China Sea. performances have been compared three different environments. Results show how can perform up 5.47 kW/m2, value wide turbines, able 10.76 kW/m2.