The extractable power from a split tidal channel: An equivalent circuit analysis

Considerable interest exists in the possibility of exploiting strong tidal currents as a source of renewable energy. Methods to understand and evaluate this resource have been developed for simple flow configurations, such as a tidal channel linking the open ocean to an inner basin. More complicated flow geometries involving branching channels have been considered recently. A simple prototype for this class of problem consists a tidal channel that is split by an island into two sub-channels. In-stream energy conversion devices are deployed in one of the sub-channels, while the second is left free for navigation or other purposes. The free sub-channel allows flow to be diverted away from the impeded sub-channel, which may lead to a reduction in the available power.