Turbine array interactions and performance in TELEMAC-3D

River hydrokinetic energy (RHE) turbines for electric power generation are generally deployed in an array or farm configuration to benefit from economies of scale. To support resource assessments and decision making, RHE developers need to be able to quantify the total power that can be generated within a river reach using an array (or arrays) of RHE turbines. The total extractable power for a given site depends on (i) the drag and power characteristics of individual turbine devices, (ii) turbine wake hydrodynamics and wake interactions within arrays, and (iii) macro scale river hydrodynamics, which may be altered by the presence of turbine arrays. Quantifying total extractable power therefore requires the ability to simulate hydrodynamics at both river reach (macro) and turbine/array (micro) scales simultaneously. In this paper, we present modifications of the TELEMAC-3D source code, implemented as a first step in facilitating estimation of the total extractable power for arrays of RHE turbines. The methodology is based on the assumption that the locations, geometry and performance characteristics of individual turbines are known a priori (e.g. from CFD simulations or physical model tests). Preliminary work to validate the methodology, by comparing the results of numerical flume tests for cylinders and simplified turbines with numerical and physical modelling data, is presented. Limitations, and future research needs to enable a unified approach to RHE resource assessment, are identified.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye