Laboratory-scale simulation of energy extraction from tidal currents

The energy available from tidal currents is substantial and considerable work has been conducted into determining the size of the resource and what the large-scale consequences of extraction might be. This paper describes the work conducted to establish a laboratory-scale model, by using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT™, in order to predict local-flow consequences resulting from the extraction of energy in two and three dimensions from within the water column in a tidal flow. As might be expected, a wake is formed but there is considerable localized flow acceleration around and, most especially, under an extraction zone. The wake behind the device is shown to be associated with a drop in the free surface which, in turn, is associated with the decline in the wake itself.