Analysis of Tidal Current Energy Potential in the Major Channels of the Bohai Strait Based on Delft3D

The utilization and development of tidal current energy can help alleviate the current energy shortage,improve the global ecological environment,and maintain sustainable development.In this study,numerical simulation is carried out on a rectangular grid using Delft3D.The tidal current energy potential of the major channels in the Bohai Strait is further simulated and estimated by comparing the simulated and measured data.Results show that the flow module in Delft3D has good modeling ability for the assessment of tidal current energy potential.The average flow velocity,maximum flow velocity,and energy flow density are consistent.The Laotieshan Channel,located in the northern part of the Bohai Strait,shows a large tidal current energy potential.The maximum flow velocity of this channel can reach 2 m s-1,and the maximum energy flow density can exceed 500 W m-2.The tidal current energy in the Laotieshan Channel is more than 10 times that in other channels.Therefore,this study advocates for the continued exploration and exploitation of the tidal current energy resources in the Laotieshan Channel.

A study of impact of the reclamation and artificial island projects on tidal currents and sediment concentration in radial sand ridge field of the South Yellow Sea

The two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, MIKE21, is applied to simulate the tidal currents and sediment concentration in the radial sand ridges of the South Yellow Sea. Results are in accordance with in situ observations. Then the variations of tidal currents and suspended sediment concentration caused by reclamation and artificial islands projects are simulated. The results show that the impacts are limited around the project areas. After the projects, the fan-shaped, Jianggang centered tidal current pattern would be replaced by a pattern which is formed by two tidal paths. One locates at the Xiyang channel in north-south direction, and the other locates at the Huangshayang channel in east-west direction. The reclamation of Tiaozini separates the waters into south portion and north portion. The changes of sediment concentrations coincide with those of currents. Both the sediment concentrations and tidal currents increase at the northwest of Dongsha and the south of Gaoni, while both decrease at the north and south of Tiaozini, and the east and southwest of Dongsha.

Analysis of tidal and residual currents across semi-enclosed bay mouth based on shipboard ADCP measurements

Based on 25 hours shipboard ADCP measurements across semi-enclosed bay mouth（Kemen Channel）, time series of tidal currents over 12 sites, which distribute evenly along the transect, were constructed to improve our understanding of tidal characteristics and residuals in this region. The tidal currents in Kemen Channel were identified as the regular semidiurnal and reversing tidal flows, with its behaviour more like standing waves. Moreover, the flood currents in the lower layers were found to be ahead of that in the upper layers and vice versa for ebb tides. The major of tidal ellipse for M2 constituent was found to be larger close to the southern side of the channel, with its incline also increasing toward the south. The signs of M4 constituent were also found mainly nearby the end points of this transect, indicating the importance of nonlinearity in tidal dynamics due to the shallower topography. A two-layer structure was found for the residual currents in Kemen Channel, flowing northeastwardly out of the Bay in upper 20m and southwestwardly into the bay in the lowers. Besides approximate 4.81×10^8 m^3 water exchanges were determined between the Luoyuan Bay and outer seas by the calculation of tidal flux through Kemen Channel.

Numerical modeling of tidal current of LNG terminal in Caofeidian,Bohai Sea

In order to reasonably simulate tidal currents around small structures such as piles in a large-scale model domain, a 2-D hydrodynamic integrated model for Bohai Sea is established with the finite element method. The grid can be discretionarily refined as a non-structure triangle or quadrilateral so that piers can be treated as one or several impermeable elements with an area of 20 to 30 km^2 in a model domain over 85 700 km^2. The computational results of tidal levels and horizontal velocities are in good agreement with the field data. Based on the computed results by the model, the layout of an open 105 DWT liquefied natural gas （LNG）terminal in Caofeidian, Bohal Sea is effectively and reasonably optimized. It can be concluded that the model is suitable and reasonable for direct simulation of tidal currents around small structures in projects.

Variations in tidal currents and suspended sediment concentration of the upper part of the North Channel of Changjiang Estuary over the past 10 years

The tidal current duration （TCD） and velocity （TCV） and suspended sediment concentration （SSC） were measured in the dry season in December, 2011 and in the flood season in June, 2012 at the upper part of the North Channel of Changjiang Estuary. They were assimilated with the measured data in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007, using the tidal range＇s proportion conversion. Variations in TCD and TCV, preferential flow and SSC have been calculated. Influences of typical engineering projects such as Qingcaosha fresh water reservoir, Yangtze River Bridge, and land reclamation on the ebb and flood TCD, TCV and SSC in the North Channel for the last 10 years are discussed. The results show that： （1） currently, in the upper part of North Channel, the ebb tide dominates; after the construction of the typical projects, ebb TCD and TCV tends to be larger and the vertical average ebb and flood SSC decrease during the flood season while SSC increases during the dry season; （2） changes in the vertical average TCV are mainly contributed by seasonal runoff variation during the flood season, which is larger in the flood season than that in the dry season; the controlling parameters of increasing ebb TCD and TCV are those large-scale engineering projects in the North Channel; variation in SSC may result mainly from the reduction of basin annual sediment loads, large-scale nearshore projects and so on.

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of tides and tidal currents in the Lianzhou Bay and adjacent areas

A 3-D unstructured-grid, finite-volume coastal ocean model （FVCOM） was used to study the tides and tidal currents in the Lianzhou Bay and adjacent areas. The simulation results were in good agreement with observations. The co-tidal maps of K1 , O1 , and M2 indicated that K1 and O1 were mostly standing waves outside the Lianzhou Bay, while M2 had a largely propagating character. However, all three constituents became propagating waves when entering the Lianzhou Bay, due to the shallow waters. The tidal current ellipses showed the characters of K1 , O1 , and M2 constituents： K1 and O1 were rotating outside the bay, but rectilinear along the water channels inside the bay; M2 was mostly rectilinear over the whole area. The tidal-induced residual current shows the flow was divided into two branches by the Guantouling Peninsula： one turned to flow west; the other was blocked by the southern boundary of the peninsula, creating a clockwise circulation. In Lianzhou Bay, there were two circulation systems, a cyclonic one at the top of the bay and an anti-cyclonic at the mouth.

A 2D Mathematical Model for Sediment Transport by Waves and Tidal Currents

In this study, the combined actions of waves and tidal currents in estuarine and coastal areas are considered and a 2D mathematical model for sediment transport by waves and tidal currents has been established in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. Non-equilibrium transport equations of suspended load and bed load are used in the model. The concept of background concentration is introduced, and the formula of sediment transport capacity of tidal currents for the Oujiang River estuary is obtained. The Dou Guoren formula is employed for the sediment transport capacity of waves. Sediment transport capacity in the form of mud and the intensity of back silting are calculated by use of Luo Zaosen＇ s formula. The calculated tidal stages are in good agreement with the field data, and the calculated velocities and flow directions of 46 vertical lines for 8 cross sections are also in good agreement with the measured data. On such a basis, simulations of back silting after excavation of the waterway with a sand bar under complicated boundary conditions in the navigation channel induced by suspended load, bed load and mud by waves and tidal currents are discussed.

Three-dimensional numerical simulation for tide and tidal current in the Beibu Gulf

By means of three dimensional POM model,which computes the eddy viscosity coefficient based on two order turbulent closed model,the tide and tidal current in the Beibu Gulf are simulated with fine grid.In the computed region,six islands are considered and the bottom friction coefficients are taken to be various values from the difference of sea region.Acquired tidal harmonic constants are compared with that of 81 tidal observatories.The absolute mean error of K 1 constituent amplitude is 4 6 cm and of the lag is 9°.The absolute mean error of O 1 constituent amplitude is 5 6 cm and of the lag is 7°.The absolute mean error of M 2 constituent amplitude is 6 2 cm and of the lag is 15°.The tide,tidal current,residual water level and tide induced residual current,as well as the vertial distribution of horizontal velocity in this sea region are analysed by the simulated results.

The spatio-temporal variation of wintertime subtidal currents in the western Taiwan Strait

A new data set of observations by six cruises of ship-mounted acoustic doppler current profiler（SADCP） and three 40 d long bottom-mounted ADCPs（BADCPs） is employed to reveal the spatiotemporal variability of tidal and subtidal currents in the western Taiwan Strait（TWS） during winter season. The results confirm the existence of intense cotidal lines for M2 tidal current, which is located north of 25°N. In this case, no existence of an amphidromic point can be identified. It is also revealed that the counter-wind current（CWC） can extend through the whole western TWS and even occupy the entire water column during winter monsoon relaxation. However,this CWC is observed to be thoroughly overwhelmed by the downwind China coastal current（CCC） during the two big monsoon bloom events in the winter of 2007, and the CCC consequently extends southward throughout the western TWS instead. Most importantly, the variation of the spatial extent for the CWC and the CCC in the western TWS is found to be well explained by the first two modes of the vector empirical orthogonal function（VEOF） analysis, that is, it is mainly controlled by a wind-driven quasi barotropic current as the first mode and slightly modulated by a relatively weak background current with a first-order baroclinic structure as the second mode.

Experimental Study on Local Scour Around Bridge Piers in Tidal Current

Local scour around a bridge pier is an important parameter for the design of a bridge. Compared with the local scour in a mono-directional current, the local scour in a tidal current has its unique characteristics. In this paper, several aspects of local scour around bridge piers in tidal current, including the scour development process, the plane form of a scour hole and the maximum scour depth, are studied through movable bed flume experiments.

Corrected Formula of Bed Resistance Coefficient for Plane Numerical Simulation of Tidal Current

By means of a logarithm law for the velocity profile, a corrected formula of bed resistance coefficient, which involves many factors such as gradient of still water depth, variation of surface elevation, flow direction, and so on, is derived from the 3D governing equations of tidal current by averaging over the whole water depth. Theoretical analysis and application have shown that the 2D plane tidal current numerical model would be more reasonable and could be applied to steep bottom topography when the corrected bed resistance coefficient is used, therefore the results of reproduction simulation and engineering calculation would be more scientific and reasonable.

Two-Dimensional Mathematical Model of Tidal Current and Sediment for Oujiang Estuary and Wenzhou Bay

A 2-D mathematical model of tidal current and sediment has been developed for the Oujiang Estuary and the Wenzhou Bay. This model accomodates complicated features including multiple islands, existence of turbidity, and significant differ-ence in size distribution of bed material. The governing equations for non-uniform suspended load and bed load transport are presented in a boundary-fitted orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system. The numerical solution procedures along with their initial conditions, boundary conditions, and movable boundary technique are presented. Strategies for computation of the critical condition of deposition or erosion, sediment transport capacity, non-uniform bed load discharge, etc. are suggested. The model verification computation shows that, the tidal levels computed from the model are in good agreement with the field data at the 18 tidal gauge stations. The computed velocities and flow directions also agree well with the values measured along the totally 52 synchronously observed verticals distributed over 8 cross sections. The coraputed tidal water throughputs through the Huangda'ao cross section are close to the measured data. And the computed values of bed deformation from Yangfushan to the estuary outfall and in the outer-sea area are in good agreement with the data observed from 1986 to 1992. The changes of tidal volumes through the estuary, velocities in different channels and the bed form due to the influence of the reclamation project on the Wenzhou shoal are predicted by means of this model.

Modeling assessment of tidal current energy in the Qiongzhou Strait, China

In the present study, an existing three-dimensional finite volume computational ocean model （FVCOM） was refined and configured including an algorithm for computing the power density and mean power density at Qiongzhou Strait of China. The refined model was validated with the measured tidal levels and tidal currents at different gauging stations. The model results are in reasonable agreement with the measured data. Based on the modeling results, we assess the resource of the tidal stream energy in the Qiongzhou Strait and discuss the temporal and the spatial distribution of the tidal current energy there. The conclusion is extracted： the higher power density occurs in the middle area of the strait, and lower at both sides. Characteristics of power density such as the maximum possibility speed, maximum power density during the spring tide period and the neap tide period, have the similar distribution. The southeast part and central area of the strait are of rich tidal current energy, where the maximum possibility speed can reach to 4.6 m/s, and the maximum power density of the spring tide period and the neap tide period can reach 5 996 and 467 W/mz separately in the surface layer The annual mean power density can reach 819 W/m2. Statistical length of accumulative time of the velocity exceeding 0.7 m/s is about 4 717 h at local point during a year. The total theoretical tidal current energy resource is approximately 189.55 MW and the available exploited energy on present technology condition is 249, 20.2 and 263 GW/a separately by using the methods FLUX, FARM and GC in the Qiongzhou Strait.

Analysis of the integrated test and evaluation methods of tidal current energy generating devices in the offshore testing site

Actual sea condition testing and inspection and evaluation method research are carried out for tidal energy devices to provide scientific and effective technical support for the ocean high-tech achievement transformation and marine renewable energy development. By analyzing three core indicators, including the power output characteristics of the tidal current device, the generating capacity, energy conversion efficiency, proposed the test contents and evaluation methods of indicators are proposed in this paper; and based on the research of wind farms, power quality testing and assessment methods of offshore tidal energy device are proposed; given the security access to the test contents of tidal current energy device, tidal current energy device running conditions in the testing ground are comprehensively assessed.

Vertical structure and seasonal variation of tidal and residual currents in the northern Huanghai Sea

Analysis of tidal current and sea level has been made based on the observations from the summer of 2006 to the winter of 2007,respectively.The result indicates that a two-layer structure of residual current exists in summer,with its upper layer going northwestward and the lower layer southeastward.In addition,some strong residuals exist in the neighboring depth of the pycnocline during the current period of astronomical tide.In winter,except some individual layersthe residual currents mostly direct to the northwest,from which we can see the fluctuation of abnormal sea-level and the appearance of associated current because of the changes of the wind field.The analysis of tidal ellipse indicates that the direction of the maximum semidiurnal component is clockwise from summer to winter,with an angle of 16-18.Moreover,in summer the semidiurnal component rotates with depth clockwise while the diurnal component counterclockwise.However,the vertical structure is almost homogeneous in winter.

Numerical simulation of construction project environmental impact on the tides and tidal currents in Aojiang offshore of Wenzhou

This paper have collected the measured tides and certain tidal current data in different stages of many projects during past three to five years near the Aojiang River. The harmonic method is used to analyze tide and tidal current data observed at five stations in the sea adjacent to Aojiang River. The results show that the tide is mainly regular and semidiumal in the sea near Aojiang of Wenzhou. The tidal amplitudes of M2 constituent are between 170 cm - 193 cm and the lags are between 260~ - 280~, According to the comparison of analytical results of harmonic constants of these stations in 2007, 2010 and 2011, the maximum change of tidal amplitudes and phase-lag range for the main semidiurnal tides （M2, $2, N2）, the diurnal tide （K1, O1） and the shallow water tide （M4, MS4, M6） are 1.8 cm - 4.4 cm and 3~ - 7~, respectively. After analyzing the tide and tidal current characteristics of Aojiang River, this paper uses an unstructured grid and Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model （FVCOM） to test the results of simulation. The simulated results agree well with the measured data. The new shoreline and depth which are produced by the construction projects closed in important major years, and the tide and tidal current field for the new shoreline and depth are constructed, which describe the superimposed influences of construction engineering in Aojiang estuary.

Numerical calculation of hydrodynamic characteristics of tidal currents for submarine excavation engineering in coastal area

In coastal areas with complicated flow movement, deposition and scour readily occur in submarine excavation projects. In this study, a smallscale model, with a high resolution in the vertical direction, was used to simulate the tidal current around a submarine excavation project. The finite volume method was used to solve Navier-Stokes equations and the Reynolds stress transport equation, and the entire process of the tidal current was simulated with unstructured meshes, generated in the irregular shape area, and structured meshes, generated in other water areas.The meshes near the bottom and free surface were densified with a minimum layer thickness of 0.05 m. The volume of fluid method was used to track the free surface, the volume fraction of cells on the upstream boundary was obtained from the volume fraction of adjacent cells, and that on the downstream boundary was determined by the water level process. The numerical results agree with the observed data, and some conclusions can be drawn: after the foundation trench excavation, the flow velocity decreases quite a bit through the foundation trench, with reverse flow occurring on the lee slope in the foundation trench; the swirling flow impedes inflow, leading to the occurrence of dammed water above the foundation trench; the turbulent motion is stronger during ebbing than in other tidal stages, the range with the maximum value of turbulent viscosity, occurring on the south side of the foundation trench at maximum ebbing, is greater than those in other tidal stages in a tidal cycle, and the maximum value of Reynolds shear stress occurs on the south side of the foundation trench at maximum ebbing in a tidal cycle. The numerical calculation method shows a strong performance in simulation of the hydrodynamic characteristics of tidal currents in the foundation trench, providing a basis for submarine engineering construction in coastal areas.

Extraction of Intemal Tidal Currents from A Portion of Sea Current Profile

Internal tide is one of the major oceanic phenomena. Determination of internal tide is important for theoretical study and for ocean engineering research. As an inverse problem, extraction of internal tidal currents from sea currents is difficult. In this paper, a method is developed to extract internal tidal currents from a portion of the sea current profile based on the fact that the directions of internal tidal currents above and below the thermocline are inverse. Sea current data collected from the South China Sea is processed with this method. The internal tidal currents and the depth of the thermocline are successfully extracted. The depth of the thermocline determined is in good agreement with that measured in 1959.

Experimental Study on Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Vertical-Axis Floating Tidal Current Energy Power Generation Device

To study the characteristics of attenuation, hydrostatic towage and wave response of the vertical-axis floating tidal current energy power generation device （VAFTCEPGD）, a prototype is designed and experiment is carried out in the towing tank. Free decay is conducted to obtain attenuation characteristics of the VAFTCEPGD, and characteristics of mooring forces and motion response, floating condition, especially the lateral displacement of the VAFTCEPGD are obtained from the towing in still water. Tension response of the #1 mooring line and vibration characteristics of the VAFTCEPGD in regular waves as well as in level 4 irregular wave sea state with the current velocity of 0.6 m/s. The results can be reference for theoretical study and engineering applications related to VAFTCEPGD.

A Finite Volume Method with Unstructured Triangular Grids for Numerical Modeling of Tidal Current

The finite volume method （FVM） has many advantages in 2-D shallow water numerical simulation. In this study, the finite volume method is used with unstructured triangular grids to simulate the tidal currents. The Roe scheme is applied in the calculation of the intercell numerical flux, and the MUSCL method is introduced to improve its accuracy. The time integral is a two-step scheme of forecast and revision. For the verification of the present method, the Stoker＇s problem is calculated and the result is compared with the mathematically analytic solutions. The comparison indicates that the method is feasible. A sea area of a port is used as an example to test the method established here. The result shows that the present computational method is satisfactory, and it could be applied to the engineering fields.