Energy yield assessment from ocean currents in the insular shelf of Cozumel Island


Por: Alcérreca-Huerta J.C., Encarnacion J.I., Ordoñez-Sánchez S., Callejas-Jiménez M., Barroso G.G.D., Allmark M., Mariño-Tapia I., Casarín R.S., O'Doherty T., Johnstone C., Carrillo L.

Publicada: 1 ene 2019
Resumen:
Marine renewables represent a promising and innovative alternative source for satisfying the energy demands of growing populations while reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. Most technological advancements and energy yield assessments have focused on promoting the use of kinetic energy from tidal streams with flow velocities higher than 2.0ms-1. However, slower-moving flows from ocean currents are recently explored due to their nearly continuous and unidirectional seasonal flows. In this study, the potential of the Yucatan Current was analysed at nearshore sites over the insular shelf of Cozumel Island in the Mexican Caribbean. Field measurements were undertaken using a vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to analyse the spatial distribution of flow velocities, along with Conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiles as well as data gathering of bathymetry and water elevations. Northward directed flow velocities were identified, with increasing velocities just before the end of the strait of the Cozumel Channel, where average velocities in the region of 0.88-1.04 ms-1 were recorded. An estimation of power delivery using horizontal axis turbines was undertaken with Blade Element Momentum theory. It was estimated that nearly 3.2 MW could be supplied to Cozumel Island, amounting to about 10% of its electricity consumption. © 2019 by the authors.

Filiaciones:
Alcérreca-Huerta J.C.:
 Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (CONACYT-ECOSUR), Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, Chetumal, Q. Roo, C.P 77014, Mexico

Encarnacion J.I.:
 Energy Systems Research Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 1XJ, United Kingdom

Ordoñez-Sánchez S.:
 Energy Systems Research Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 1XJ, United Kingdom

Callejas-Jiménez M.:
 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, Chetumal, Q. Roo, C.P 77014, Mexico

Barroso G.G.D.:
 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, Chetumal, Q. Roo, C.P 77014, Mexico

Allmark M.:
 School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3AA, United Kingdom

Mariño-Tapia I.:
 Marine Resources Department, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Mérida, Yucatán, C.P. 97310, Mexico

Casarín R.S.:
 Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, Mexico City, C.P. 04510, Mexico

O'Doherty T.:
 School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3AA, United Kingdom

Johnstone C.:
 Energy Systems Research Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 1XJ, United Kingdom

Carrillo L.:
 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, Chetumal, Q. Roo, C.P 77014, Mexico
ISSN: 20771312
Editorial
MDPI AG, ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND, Suiza
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 7 Número: 5
Páginas:
WOS Id: 000470965000027