Current Turbine Array Placement in Quasigeostrophic Flows Over Bottom Topography

The Coriolis force in the ocean at mid to high latitudes leads to significant deviation of flow over bottom topography such as seamounts, including formation of Taylor columns. Direct oceanic measurements ([2], [3]) have verified the flow deviations and the presence of Taylor columns over seamounts in the ocean. In this study we consider how this quasigeostrophic flow can be exploited to enhance the performance of an underwater tidal turbine array. For small Rossby numbers, Johnson [1] provides to leading order in Rossby number, analytical solutions for inviscid quasigeostrophic flow over isolated elongated elliptical topography. These solutions are used in our study to predict and explore the characteristics of the flow under flow currents corresponding to various tidal conditions. The results are used to consider a potential design for a layout of turbine arrays that could take advantage of the Coriolis force to enhance tidal current power production.