Research Portal
Displaying 1 – 10 of 19 results
How Does Sound Travel in High Energy Environments? Effectiveness of Acoustic Monitoring Systems and Turbine Audibility Assessment
April 2017 – December 2020
The researchers are designing and implementing a long-term acoustic monitoring program to support tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy. Specialized acoustic instrumentation was deployed for a two-month period in Grand Passage to advance understanding how turbulence affects the ability to
Reducing Costs of Tidal Energy through a Comprehensive Characterization of Turbulence in Minas Passage
October 2017 – March 2020
Turbulence is a significant issue at every site being considered for in-stream tidal energy development.
Turbine Wake Characterization
November 2017 – March 2019
Turbine wake characterization is a key endeavour to the development of in-stream tidal turbine arrays. In a sense, a turbine’s footprint includes its wake, wherein flow speeds are less and turbulence is elevated compared to the ambient surroundings. It is thus desired to not just delineate wake
Going with the Flow II: Using Drifters to Address Uncertainties in the Spatial Variation of Tidal Flows
October 2017 – June 2018
Drifters are one of the oldest, simplest and most reliable methods for measuring ocean currents. Drifters also provide a simple, low risk platform from which to gather acoustic information along flow streamlines or ‘drift tracks’.
Geoscience » Spill Preparedness
Advanced Coastal Mapping to Support Hydrodynamic Modelling
April 2016 – June 2018
Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast exhibits a variety of shorelines that may be vulnerable to contamination in the event of an offshore oil spill. In turn, variable currents, changing water levels, shoals, and exposed seaside conditions make effective spill response difficult for tidal inlets.
Turbulence Dissipation Rates from Horizontal Velocity Profiles at Mid-Depth in Fast Tidal Flows
December 2017
This study characterizes the turbulence in a tidal channel in the Bay of Fundy that has been identified for development as a tidal power resource.
Going with the Flow: Advancement of Drifting Platforms for use in Tidal Energy Site Assessment & Environmental Monitoring
April 2015 – August 2017
This research project aimed to apply a simple and low cost philosophy to ocean observation by developing an inexpensive low-profile surface drifter for use in initial assessment of potential tidal energy development opportunities. The project addressed limitations in the existing drifter design
Drones and Drifters – The Great Pumpkin Race
October 2016 – July 2017
This project tested and developed a new low-cost approach to collecting oceanographic measurements for use in tidal initial site assessments. The plan combines one of the oldest tools in oceanography, the drifter, with one of the newest, the drone.
High-Resolution Numerical Model Resource Assessment of Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy
January 2017
Two numerical models developed by the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute are described. The models simulate the tidal flow in the Bay of Fundy, and in particular the Minas Passage. The models have different grid resolution, one suitable for site assessment and one suitable for resource assessment.
Numerical Modeling of Tidal Turbine Behaviour under Real Turbulent Tidal Flow Conditions
December 2015 – December 2016
Researchers investigated and numerically quantified the behaviour of a tidal turbine under turbulent unsteady tidal flow, using flow data collected in the lower Bay of Fundy (Digby area).