Numerical models have been widely used for the resource characterization and assessment of tidal instream energy. The accurate assessment of tidal stream energy resources at a feasibility or project-design scale requires detailed hydrodynamic model simulations or high-quality field measurements. This study applied a three-dimensional finite-volume community ocean model (FVCOM) to simulate the tidal hydrodynamics in the Passamaquoddy–Cobscook Bay archipelago, with a focus on the Western Passage, to assist tidal energy resource assessment. IEC Technical specifications were considered in the model configurations and simulations. The model was calibrated and validated with field measurements. Energy fluxes and power densities along selected cross sections were calculated to evaluate the feasibility of the tidal energy development at several hotspots that feature strong currents. When taking both the high current speed and water depth into account, the model results showed that the Western Passage has great potential for the deployment of tidal energy farms. The maximum extractable power in the Western Passage was estimated using the Garrett and Cummins method. Different criteria and methods recommended by the IEC for resource characterization were evaluated and discussed using a sensitivity analysis of energy extraction for a hypothetical tidal turbine farm in the Western Passage.

中文翻译：

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西部通道中潮汐能提取的模型评估

数值模型已被广泛用于潮汐流能的资源表征和评估。在可行性或项目设计规模上准确评估潮汐能资源需要详细的水动力模型模拟或高质量的现场测量。这项研究应用了三维有限体积群落海洋模型（FVCOM）来模拟Passamaquoddy-Cobscook Bay群岛中的潮汐水动力，重点是西方通道，以协助潮汐能资源评估。在模型配置和仿真中考虑了IEC技术规范。对该模型进行校准并通过现场测量进行验证。计算沿选定横截面的能量通量和功率密度，以评估在具有强流的几个热点上开发潮汐能的可行性。当同时考虑高流速和水深时，模型结果表明，西部通道具有部署潮汐能发电厂的巨大潜力。使用Garrett和Cummins方法估算了Western Passage中的最大可提取功率。针对西部通道中一个假设的潮汐涡轮机场，使用能量提取的敏感性分析对IEC推荐的用于资源表征的不同标准和方法进行了评估和讨论。模型结果表明，西部通道在部署潮汐能发电厂方面具有巨大潜力。使用Garrett和Cummins方法估算了Western Passage中的最大可提取功率。针对西部通道中一个假设的潮汐涡轮机场，使用能量提取的敏感性分析对IEC推荐的用于资源表征的不同标准和方法进行了评估和讨论。模型结果表明，西部通道在部署潮汐能发电厂方面具有巨大潜力。使用Garrett和Cummins方法估算了Western Passage中的最大可提取功率。针对西部通道中一个假设的潮汐涡轮机场，使用能量提取的敏感性分析对IEC推荐的用于资源表征的不同标准和方法进行了评估和讨论。