Marine Currents

Aim

Investigate the characteristics of the tidal resources in Scotland and demonstrate how to match those resources with the appropriate Marine current technology

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Description

To identify how the bathymetry of particular sites affects the tidal current flow characteristics and produce velocity distributions for a number of west coast sites. To model the three main tidal technologies: horizontal axis, vertical axis and oscillating hydrofoil devices, in order to provide a generic review of each technology type. Then to combine the resource and technology information to produce a frame work to assess the suitability of a particular technology for a resource characteristic. The final aim is to complete a case study to demonstrate the implementation of this methodology for at least one Scottish West Coast site to prove robustness of work and further qualify methodology.

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Plan

Stage 1 - Investigation

A. Resource Investigation

• Identify current weaknesses in available resource data
• Obtain ocean topography charts
• Select sites in the west of Scotland based on current research, specific criteria, and surface velocity
• Calculate shear profiles according to bathymetry of selected sites
• Correlate shear data with surface velocity to derive velocity distributions

B. Technology assessment

• Generic Modelling of three tidal technologies: horizontal axis, vertical axis and oscillating hydrofoil devices
• Oceanographic & Hydrodynamic Suitability of each type
• Potential packing densities
• Define suitable conditions for each technology in terms of depth, velocity, surface roughness etc

Stage 2

A.  Analysis Methodology

• Develop a frame work to assess each technology suitability for each resource characteristic
• Define rules to match technology with particular resource characteristic

B.  Case study

• Demonstrate the implementation of this methodology for at least one Scottish West Coast site, most likely the 'Sound of Islay'
• Prove robustness of work and further quantify methodology

 

Flowchart

 

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Proposed Deliverables

• The bathymetry profiles and velocity distributions for a number of west coast sites
• A generic review of the three main technology types
• A frame work to assess the suitability of a particular technology a resource characteristic
• A case study to demonstrate the implementation of this methodology for at least one Scottish West Coast site, most likely the ‘Sound of Islay’

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Timetable

• Week 1    (23/1-29/1) - Project Definition, Literature review
• Week 2    (30/1-05/2) - Project aims, scope, deliverables and plan defined, Literature review, 1st Presentation
• Week 3    (06/2-12/2) - Mapping and identification of sites in the west of Scotland, Literature review
• Week 4    (13/2-19/2) - Mapping profiles, Velocity distribution software developed, Tidal Data, 2nd Presentation
• Week 5    (20/2-26/2) - Velocity distribution software and tidal data
• Week 6    (27/2-05/3) - Technology investigations, 3rd Presentation
• Week 7    (06/3-12/3) - Technology investigations
• Week 8    (13/3-19/3) - Environmental issues, Packing densities, 4th Presentation
• Week 9    (20/3-26/3) - Methodology defined, Resource and technology information combined
• Week 10  (27/3-02/3) - Methodology 5th Presentation
• Week 11  (03/4-09/4) - Economic issues
• Week 12  (10/4-16/4) - Methodology and Case Study
• Week 13  (17/4-23/4) - Refining and Changes implemented
• Week 14  (24/4-30/4) - Final Presentation

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Marine Currents

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