An Assessment of the Hydrokinetic Energy Resource of the Florida Current

Author

Duerr, A.E.S. ; Dhanak, Manhar R.

Author_Institution

Dept. Ocean & Mech. Eng., Florida Atlantic Univ., Dania Beach, FL, USA

Volume

37

Issue

2

fYear

2012

fDate

4/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

281

Lastpage

293

Abstract

Available ocean model and physically measured data from the Florida Current are analyzed to provide a detailed assessment of the hydrokinetic energy resource of the Florida Current, in support of harnessing a portion of it using ocean energy conversion devices. It has been estimated that approximately 25 GW of hydrokinetic power is available in the Florida Current. Fluctuations in this energy resource are described. Based on the analysis, realistic parameters governing where hydrokinetic energy extraction devices-turbines-may be ideally installed are discussed. An energy resource assessment methodology that has been developed is described. It can be used as a design tool for implementation of arrays of ocean energy extraction devices.

Keywords

fluctuations; hydroelectric power; hydroelectric power stations; ocean thermal energy conversion; ocean waves; Florida Current; hydrokinetic energy resource assessment; ocean energy conversion device; ocean energy extraction devices; ocean model; Arrays; Atmospheric modeling; Computational modeling; Computers; Data models; Oceans; Water resources; Florida Current; hybrid coordinate ocean model (HYCOM); moored acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data; ocean energy; resource assessment;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Oceanic Engineering, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0364-9059

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JOE.2012.2186347

Filename

6155614