Research Portal

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.

Geoscience » Play Fairway Analyses Atlases 2010–Present

Greater North Atlantic Liassic Petroleum Systems Synthesis

October 2019 – February 2020

In the absence of definitive, direct evidence for a Liassic (i.e. Lower Jurassic) petroleum system offshore Nova Scotia, information is required on source rock analogs around the greater North Atlantic region.

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’.

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).

Turbulence in Grand Passage Nova Scotia: Measures of Intermittency

April – December 2016

Turbulence research is very important to advancing the in-stream tidal energy sector, however turbulence in general is not well understood.  Measurement at prospective turbine locations is essential prior to development, given the high degree of spatial variability between sites.

Geoscience » Play Fairway Analyses Atlases 2010–Present

Central Scotian Slope Atlas (2016)

January – August 2016

The objective of this project was to identify and technically evaluate any significant exploration leads and prospects in the area of interest.  The study used integrated 3D basin modelling analysis to assess the timing of maturation of source rocks, transformation ratios, hydrocarbon entrapment,

Characterizing Tidal Flows and Turbine Power Production in Petit Passage using Oceanographic and CFD Models

September 2015 – March 2016

The goal of this project was to identify potential turbine deployment locations in Petit Passage Nova Scotia, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite volume coastal ocean models (FVCOM).

Spectral and Structure Function Estimates of Turbulence Dissipation Rates in a High Flow Tidal Channel Using Broadband ADCPs

January 2016

Spectral and structure function methods are implemented to compute the dissipation rate, ε, from broadband, diverging-beam, acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data collected at four sites in a high-flow tidal channel.

Turbulence and Drag in a High Reynolds Number Tidal Passage Targeted for In-Stream Tidal Power

August 2013

Results are presented from an investigation of turbulence and bottom drag carried out in Grand Passage, lower Bay of Fundy.