Numerical Study on the Effects of Combined Wave, Current, and Wind on the Tidal Stream and Wave Energy in the Yellow-Bohai Sea Area, China

Abstract

Marine renewable energy resources, such as tidal stream and wave energy have attracted extensive attention. The Yellow-Bohai Sea area, located in the eastern China, has abundant renewable energy resources. Understanding the coupled effects of different hydrodynamics can accurately assess renewable energy. To this end, this study establishes a three-dimensional hydrodynamic coupling model, including wind, current, and wave hydrodynamic fields. The hydrodynamic module TELEMAC-3D and the spectral wave model TOMAWAC, incorporating wind and TPXO as driving conditions are applied in the simulation. Simulation results are validated using the measurements conducted at ten stations. Good agreement between the simulation and measurements demonstrates the coupling model has good hydrodynamic performance. By focusing on several vital parameters, such as tidal elevation, tidal current velocity, and significant wave height with corresponding wave period and direction, the differences between the three models about WCWI (wave, current, and wind interaction) and the single field (pure tide or wave) over one year are discussed. This study demonstrates that the WCWI has significant impact on the tidal current and wave field.

Keywords: Coupling model, TELEMAC-3D, TOMAWAC, Tide, Wave.