SIMPLIFIED TIDAL BARRAGE FOR

SMALL-SCALE ApPLICATIONS
By Andrew D. Grant)
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ABSTRACT: lbe performance of a tidal barrage with no gates and continuous

flow through its turbines has been investigated by simulation. Double-effect gen-
eration could be achieved with an axial-flow turbine that reverses direction after
each half of the tidal cycle. Such a system might be attractive for unmanned op-
eration in remote areas, perhaps on a smaller scale than for conventional barrage
systems. Predictions have been made about the energy obtainable from such a
system. and the conditions necessary to maximize energy capture have been deter-
mined. A mathematical model of a high specific speed turbine, incorporated into
the prediction procedures, allowed the behavior of the system under varying tidal
range (and hence varying head) to be examined. Differential heads across the tur-
bine are somewhat less than those achievable with a gated barrage, and performance
is correspondingly affected in very small tidal ranges. Variable-speed turbine op-
eration was found to be beneficial in these circumstances. Overall levels of pre-
dicted output were very encouraging and compare surprisingly well with conven-
tional barrage schemes. The concept would seem to merit further investigation.

BACKGROUND
The abundant power in the rise and fall of the tides has prompted studies
of barrage schemes in most parts of the world where tidal ranges are large
enough to be attractive. The majority of these studies (and the few systems
that have actually been built) have been large installations with multimega-
watt ratings. It is generally accepted that the complexity of a barrage system,
and the extensive associated civil works, can only be justified on such a scale.
For small systems (perhaps operating unattended in remote areas), different
technical solutions might be adopted. The Salford transverse oscillator de-
scribed by Carnie et al. (1986) used a tank with moveable internal baffles
and a hydraulic ram for power takeoff. White et al. (1986) developed a hy-
dropneumatic system where water was processed through a vented tank, with
a Wells turbine driven by the resultant air flow. Neither has been subjected
to field trials so far. Interest has moved from the impounding of volumes of
water to the idea of intercepting tidal flows by what can best be described
as "underwater wind turbines"; see, for example. McNaughton et al. (1993).
Prototypes are under development, but the number of suitable sites is small;
also, they tend to be in locations where interference with coastal navigation
could cause problems.
The proposal described here returns to the notion of a barrage or some
other form of containment, with power generated from low-head turbines. It
departs from convention in proposing unrestricted flow through the barrage
at all times. The absence of moveable gates and associated control systems
is appropriate for unattended systems in remote regions. Control would be
limited to regulation of the electrical load on the generator, and of its speed
of rotation. It is likely that such a system would be less effective in terms of

IDeputy Dir., Energy Sys. Res. Unit, Univ. of Strathclyde, Glasgow Gl DO, Scot-
land, UK.
Note. Discussion open until September I, 1997. To extend the closing date one
month, a written request must be filed with the ASCE Manager of Journals. The
manuscript for this paper was submitted for review and possible publication on No-
vember 8, 1995. This paper is part of the Journal of Energy Engineering, Vol. 123,
No. I, April, 1997. ©ASCE, ISSN 0733-9402197/0001-0011-0019/$4.00 + $.25 per
page. Paper No. 11987.
JOURNAl OF ENERGY ENGINEERING 1 APRIL 1997/11

J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 energy capture than a fully regulated tidal barrage with timed gate move-
ments; it remains to be seen just how much it would suffer in comparison.
For any given basin area and tidal range, it is evident that there will be an
optimum resistance to flow through the barrage, which will set up significant
head differentials and maximize the energy capture per cycle. This implies a
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certain cross-sectional area of flow passage. One of the tests of the present
exercise is to determine the optimum geometric parameters, and to explore
the sensitivity of a given system to the fluctuations in tidal range, which
would occur naturally.
The flow passage resistance will be substantially similar in the ebb and
flow directions, so it is sensible to attempt power generation for both. Pump-
ing is probably inappropriate, since it would require an external source of
power (only available if the system is grid-connected) and accurately timed
mode switching, which would add to the complexity of the control system.
Turbine rotors have been designed to operate in reversing flow: the best
known is the Wells turbine, the basic principles of which are described by
Grant et aI. (1981), and which has (to date) been used exclusively in air. The
Bichard turbine has flexible or pivoted blades, which automatically reverse
their pitch in response to flow reversal. It is a hydraulic turbine, and has been
demonstrated in a small, submerged ocean wave energy converter by Grant
(1978). Both are reaction machines, developed for wave energy applications
where the f"dpid cycling provides a compelling reason for keeping the turbine
turning in the same direction. The long period of the tidal cycle is much less
demanding: even with ebb and flow generation there are lengthy intervals
between phases of power production. Therefore, reversal of the direction of
rotation in successive phases becomes acceptable. The following might be a
suitable outline specification:

• Fully symmetrical blade profile (uncambered flat plate with tapered lead-
ing and trailing edge)
• Bulb or tubular configuration with near-horizontal axis of rotation
• Fixed blade pitch angles, with appropriate degree of spanwise twist

It should be mentioned that studies of bidirectional pump turbines by Ra-

machandran et aI. (1986) have indicated benefits from adapting an S-shaped
blade camber; however, in the absence of pumping duties the advantages
disappear.

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS
The overall concept is illustrated in Fig. 1. The forcing function from the
variation in sea level ZI is assumed to be sinusoidal
z, = Z + a·sin wt (1)

where Z = mean surface level; and a = amplitude of motion. The tidal range
is 2a, and the period is (21T/W).
The motion of the basin surface level Z2 will be periodic but not sinusoidal.
Its variation is governed by the following:

dz 2 1
-=-·C·Ad
V2g(z - z) (2)
dt B 12

where A and Cd = cross-sectional area and discharge coefficient of the flow

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J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 SEA BASIN
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FIG. 1. Barrage System Schematic

passage through the barrier, respectively; and B = basin surface area. If it is

assumed that Cd is independent of flow rate and that B is independent of zz,
then

(3)

where K = a constant for a given system.

In practice Cd will be a function of the Reynolds number, and so will
respond to changes in (ZI - zz). For a streamlined flow passage the value of
Cd would be expected to fall as Reynolds numbers decrease. This would be
beneficial to the performance of the system, in that the rate of flow through
the barrage will be reduced (a little) at times when the differential head is
small and there is little power available.
Variation of zz over the tidal cycle for any given value of K was determined
numerically by a simple time-stepping code. Seven-hundred and fifty steps
per cycle (corresponding roughly to I-min intervals) were adopted as stan-
dard. In a sensitivity analysis, significant (>0.1 %) changes in computed val-
ues were not observed until the number of steps per cycle fell below 250.
The power P available to a hypothetical turbine, given by
P = pgCd AY2g(zt - zz)3 (4)
was calculated and summated to determine energy capture per cycle. Maxi-
mum energy capture was obtained with a configuration that produced the
variations in surface levels shown in Fig. 2, for a specimen 6-m tidal range.
Flow reversal occurs at 37 and 87% of the period, measured from slack water.
The maximum head differential across the turbines is 2.15 m, approximately
36% of the tidal range.
A simple examination will show that the optimal value of the constant K
must alter if the tidal range changes. If the curves in Fig. 2 are to maintain
their relative position as the vertical scale is adjusted, the rates of movement
of the two free surfaces must remain in step, i.e., (dzzldt) oc (dz1Idt) at any
given time. Of course (dz1Idt) = aw'cos wt, and is directly proportional to
the tidal range. But (dzzldt) oc ~; so if (Zl - zz) is proportional to
range, as it must be if similarity is to be preserved, the correct conditions
cannot be met if K remains fixed. Clearly, to maintain similarity we require
that K oc yrange oc y'2Q. By incorp~ting the period T of the tidal cycle
a nondimensional parameter (KTIV2a) may be formed. Predictions of
energy captured per cycle were made for a wide range of K, a, and (for
completeness) T, which confirmed that (KTIy'2Q) was the definitive param-
JOURNAL OF ENERGY ENGINEERING / APRIL 1997/13

J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 3r----~._.o;::_--___,----___,_---___,

..
! 2
.sc
1
1.s
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~ 0 r::::-Sea ~]
~ i • Basin level
&
.. -1 , - . I ' ' - - - - - - + - - - - j
j
! -2 +-----+-

0.25 0.5 0.75

TIdal Cycles

FIG. 2. Cyclic Variation of Water Levels for Maximum Energy Capture

eter as far as system performance is concerned. Its value for maximum energy
capture was found to be 3.288; so, for a given tidal range, the optimum value
of K may be calculated. A second dimensionless parameter may be con-
structed around E, the energy captured per cycle, in the form of (E)/
[(2a)2Bpg); the maximum value obtainable in simulation was 0.346, with E
expressed in joules.

SIMULATION OF COMPLETE SYSTEM

The system response illustrated in Fig. 2 was of course generated with a
fixed value of K, which is unlikely to give an accurate representation of a
real tidal barrage fitted with turbines. The next stage in the analysis was to
derive performance characteristics for a hypothetical axial-flow turbine, es-
pecially the relationship between flow rate and differential head. With small-
scale applications in mind, the following specification was selected

Rotor diameter across blade tips = 0.8 m

Rotor hub diameter = 0.4 m
Rotor solidity = 0.7

Given the bidirectional nature of the machine, some fairly unflattering as-
sumptions were made about blade lift-to-drag ratios and turbine leaving
losses. A single blade element at midheight (0.3 m in radius) was taken to
derive a momentum balance. A range of blade pitch angles were investigated,
but rotor speed was held fixed at 250 rev/min. The results are illustrated in
Fig. 3 for blade pitch angles (measured at midheight) of 10°, 15°, and 20° to
the plane of rotation. Contours of overall hydraulic efficiency, including leav-
ing losses, have been superimposed.
These performance characteristics were then incorporated into the time-
stepping code to obtain a prediction of the behavior of the complete system.
In a reversal of the earlier procedure, the turbine dimensions were considered
fixed, and the energy produced for a range of values of the basin surface area
B was calculated for the reference 6-m tidal range, 15° blade angle, and shaft
speed of 250 rev/min. The results are given in Table 1, and show that the
14/ JOURNAL OF ENERGY ENGINEERING / APRIL 1997

J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 3.5

3.0
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2.5

0.48

Cii 2.0
0.45
II!
~
~
w
1.5
:z:

1.0

0.5

0
0.8 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.2
VOLlAE FLOWRAlE 1M 3/ s1

FIG. 3. Characteristics of O.8-m-Diameter Axial-Flow Turbine, from Simula-

tionModel

TABLE 1. Effect of Basin Area on Energy Output

Energy per tidal
Basin area, B cycle, E ElB
(m") (MJ) (kJ/m2 )
(1 ) (2) (3)
4,500 226.6 50.4
5,000 291.2 58.2
5,500 346.6 63.0
6,000 392.7 65.5
6,500 430.6 66.2
7,000 461.4 65.9
7,500 487.1 64.9
8,000 508.2 63.5
8,500 525.9 61.9
10,000 564.4 56.4

maximum yield in tenns of energy per unit surface area occurs when B is
about 6,500 m 2 • The sensitivity of the system to a mismatch between basin
surface area and turbine size is illustrated more systematically in Fig. 4,
where values of the energy parameter (E)/[(2a)2Bpg] are plotted against B
for the hypothetical turbine, rotating at a fixed speed of 250 rev/min.
Basin-level variation through the tidal cycle was then predicted using the
optimum value of B, and is shown in Fig. 5. The behavior is not in fact
markedly different from the idealized case illustrated in Fig. 2. One modifi-
cation was made during the time-stepping procedure, which has a minor
effect on the basin levels: it was assumed that for differential heads below
0.6 m, power generation ceased, and the turbine rotated freely with minimal
JOURNAL OF ENERGY ENGINEERING / APRIL 1997/15

J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 0.2

SCD
E
.
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l!
a.. 0.1
>.
2'
CD
c
w

0
4000 6000 8000 10000
Basin Surface Area (square metres)

FIG. 4. Matching of Turbine Flow Passage Area to Basin Surface Area: Re-
sults for Single O.8-m Turbine at 6-m Tidal Range, 250 revlmin Shaft Speed

3r-----:;;""':"'~---r_---_.,_---_____,

-3 +----~----+_---""'_+------_1

o 0.25 0.5 0.75

TIdal Cycles

FIG. 5. Cyclic Variation of Water Levels and Turbine Power Output, for Com-
plete System under Optimum Conditions

shaft torque being produced. A different head/flow-rate relationship then ap-

plies, and is reflected in a change in the gradient of the basin-level curve in
Fig. 5 at the appropriate points in the cycle. Also shown in the figure is a
curve of power output, plotted to an arbitary scale simply to illustrate its
cyclic behavior.
Finally, the system configured to give the "best" performance (rotor blade
angle 15°, basin area 6,500 m 2 ) and was examined under varying tidal ranges.
Again, the energy produced per cycle was calculated, and values are listed
in Table 2 for three turbine shaft speeds. Corresponding values of the energy
parameter are plotted in Fig. 6; at 250 rev/min they peak as expected for a
tidal range of 6 m. The curve is reasonably flat, indicating that the system
would remain effective throughout a typical monthly cycle of spring and neap
tides. However, there is some benefit to be gained from variable speed op-
eration, especially when the tidal range is small.
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J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 TABLE 2. Effects of TIdal Range and Turbine Shaft Speed on Energy Output
Energy per Tidal Cycle
(MJ)
Turbine Shaft Speed
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(rev/min)
Tidal range
(m) 200 250 300
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1.706 - 14.8 -
2.169 40.0 33.6 -
2.665 71.0 62.9 56.2
3.228 114.5 105.8 97.9
3.840 171.3 163.1 154.8
4.507 242.4 235.8 228.8
5.229 329.5 324.9 321.0
6.000 432.7 432.6 431.8
6.826 555.2 555.4 563.0
7.710 696.1 698.3 715.7
8.641 856.8 859.2 890.9

0.2 ~-~--,...----,------.--r---.----,-----r----,

..... ;.~.. ~.: .. ..

... , ......•.... _- ....

0.18

;
-1---+----l--.-",.F,---"L.,'--"4---\---t-------+----'f----1
1

~"
I 0.12 ~---l~---I-I-I-·~
..
,

. --+--+-----+- -~__+---l
- +"

:.
f
W
0.08 -I-----I---~!f'+_-_+_-+--+__-+---f-----1----l

0.04 1 - .

0-1---+---+----+---1--1---+---4---4---1
o 2 458 7 8 9
TIdal Range (m)

FIG. 6. Sensitivity of a Given System to Variations In TIdal Range, and Effects

of Turbine Speed Change

COMMENT
There is clearly scope for more sophisticated modeling of the axial-flow
turbine, A more systematic approach to the relative effect of losses at very
low differential heads would certainly be valuable. However, the form of the
characteristics shown in Fig. 3 is reasonable, and a peak: efficiency of 0.53
is unlikely to be overoptimistic.
Selection of the appropriate turbine cross-sectional area to suit a particular
scheme may be made from examination of the parameter (KTI'\!za), or
in its expanded form (CdAT)/(B)-V(gla)_ The results of the foregoing sim-
ulation, where turbine area A = 0.377 m and the optimum basin area B was
found to be 6,500 m 2, allow scaling calculations to be made, either for other
values of B or for other values of tidal range (or both)_
JOURNAL OF ENERGY ENGINEERING / APRIL 1997/17

J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 Sensitivity of a given system to the variations in tidal range that will occur
naturally was a cause for concern. In a conventional system, where the timing
of gate movements can be adjusted, some measure of control is possible, but
in a free-flow system the only adjustable parameter is turbine speed. The
predictions in Fig. 6 show a reassuringly flat response even at constant turbine
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speed, and demonstrate the advantages that may be gained from a variable-
speed operation.
An examination of conventional tidal barrage schemes (actual and pro-
posed) from data compiled by Baker (1991) suggested that energy parameters
are generally unlikely to exceed 0.2. So the free-flow concept appears to
suffer only a little in comparison.
Differential heads across the turbine in a free-flow system are rather less
than might be expected for a conventional tidal barrage. The majority of
predictions made here were for a tidal range of 6 m; for lesser ranges, the
reduced differential heads across the turbine might be particularly detrimental
to the performance of a free-flow system. This is a topic that clearly requires
further investigation.
The free-flow system inherently gives two periods of power generation in
each cycle (see Fig. 5). Periods without power may not be as short as indi-
cated in this figure, but are unlikely to exceed 2 hours. The system could
operate autonomously to power an application where a constant supply is not
strictly necessary; space heating or water heating are clearly appropriate. In
such a guise, variable-speed operation might be employed to increase energy
capture during the cycle, and to minimize sensitivity to variations in the tidal
range.
Environmental effects in the region of the basin are similar to those for a
conventional ebb and flow generation scheme. Mean water levels in the basin
will be about the same, but the range of variations will be reduced (by about
25% according to the predictions of Fig. 5).

CONCLUSIONS
It has been suggested that a tidal barrage without gates, permitting free
flow through turbines in both ebb and flow conditions, could be a practical
system in remote areas, and might allow economic exploitation at smaller
scales than contemplated so far. The idea has been investigated by simulation.
The results obtained suggest that a free-flow tidal barrage scheme could
produce significant amounts of energy. Its output is predicted to be about
25% less than that from a conventional single-effect system with pumping.
For small tidal ranges, performance is likely to suffer in relative terms as
the differential heads across the turbine will always be less than those possible
in a gated system. More accurate prediction of turbine behavior at very low
heads would clarify the limitations imposed.

APPENDIX. REFERENCES
Baker, A. C. (1991). Tidal power. Peter Peregrinus, Hertfordshire, U.K.
Carnie, C. G., Jones, I. S., Hounam, I., Riva, G., and Twidell, J. W. (1986). "Tidal
energy potential around the coast of Scotland using The Salford Transverse Oscil-
lator." Energy for rural and island communities 4, J. Twidell ed., Pergamon Press,
Oxford, u.K., 151-158.
Grant, A. D. (1978). "Development of a wave-powered marine distress beacon."
Proc., Int. Symp. on Wave and Tidal Energy; B3/47-56, BHRA Fluid Engineering,
Cranfield, U.K.
Grant, R. J., Johnson, C. G., and Sturge, D. P. (1981). "Performance of a wells turbine
18/ JOURNAL OF ENERGY ENGINEERING / APRIL 1997

J. Energy Eng. 1997.123:11-19.

 for use in a wave energy system." Con! Publ. No. 192, Instn. of Electr. Engrs.,
London, U.K., 117-122.
McNaughton, D., Fraenkel, P. L., Paish, O. F., Hunter, R., and Derrick, A. (1993).
"TIdal stream turbine development." Proc., Conf. on Renewable Energy; Publ. No.
385, Instn. of Electr. Engrs., London, U.K.
Ramachandran, R., Radha Krishna, H. c., and Aswatha Narayana, P. A. (1986). "Cas-
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bibliothek Der TU Muenchen on 07/31/13. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

cade experiments over 'S' blade profiles." J. Energy Engrg., ASCE, 112(1), 37-
50.
White, P. R. S., Duckers, L. J. Lockett, F. P. Loughridge, B. w., Peatfield, A. M., and
West, M. J. (1986). "A low head hydro scheme suitable for small tidal and river
applications." Energy for rural and island communities 4, J. Twidell, ed., Pergamon
Press, Oxford, u.K., 171-177.

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