Measurements were obtained from three different potential tidal stream turbine (TST) installation sites using bottom-mounted ADCPs and used to calculate the Reynolds stresses and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) production terms, which are valuable in understanding the structure of marine turbulence. By analysis and comparison of the measured turbulence data from each of the sites, we attempt to determine whether the variability of turbulence characteristics among potential deployment locations ought to be given significant weight in the design of tidal stream turbines.
We find that, with the exception of one site during a particular phase of the tide, Reynolds stress distributions are qualitatively similar across different sites; we suggest that significant differences in the exceptional case are attributable to the influence of site bathymetry. Examination of the relationship between Reynolds stresses and TKE production in the near-bed region indicates that the production of turbulent kinetic energy is dominated by the coincidence of longitudinal shear and strong longitudinal-vertical Reynolds stresses, with lateral effects playing a much less significant role.
