The Influence of Energy Converting Structures on the Hydrodynamic and Morphodynamic Processes in the Southern Brazilian Shelf

摘要

This study is a preliminary investigation about the influence of the installation of a set of energy converters in the Southern Brazilian Shelf and possible modifications in the natural hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes in this area. The study is based on the application of a three dimensional numerical model to simulate the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes. The energy converting structures are represented as sink energy points in specific positions along the numerical domain. The results indicated that currents could be used to estimate the conversion from kinetic to electric energy using the turbines concept. Mean and maximum values around 10 and 150 kW of electric power could be obtained. These structures remove part of the kinetic energy from the coastal currents generating divergence and converge according with the dominant direction of the currents. The major consequence at this time scales is the decrease of the mean current velocity and the increase of the mean suspended sediments concentration.