Abstract
dc:description.abstractTidal energy is a clean, sustainable, reliable, predictable source of energy. Recent developments in underwater turbines have made harvesting tidal energy feasible. Determining the power potential available in a given water body can be accomplished by using numerical hydraulic models to predict the flow velocity at a location of interest. The East River in Manhattan has been used here in an effort to develop a modeling methodology for assessing the power potential of a site. Two two-dimensional CFD models, FESWMS and TUFLOW, as well as one one-dimensional model, HEC-RAS, are used to analyze flows in the East River. Comparisons are made between the models and TUFLOW proves to best represent flows in the East River. HEC-RAS provides accurate results; however, the one-dimensional results lack the necessary detail of a two-dimensional model. FESWMS cannot produce results that mimic actual flow conditions in the East River. Using the TUFLOW model, power and energy estimates are made. These estimates show that a two-dimensional model, such as TUFLOW, can be a great tool for engineers and planners developing tidal energy projects. Using the results of this work, a methodology is developed to assess power potential at other sites using publicly available data.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Civil Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Civil Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2008
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Spurlock, Derek Scott
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Diplas, Panayiotis
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Cox, William E.
- Gutierrez, Marte S.
Subjects
dc:subject × 3Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-09212008-134411
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35140