Research Portal

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.

FORCE Data Management System/User Interface

April – June 2017

This project defined a Data Management System (DMS) and user interface solution for use by FORCE.

Geoscience » Tectonics and Crustal Structure

Extensional Tectonics across the Northern Nova Scotia Margin from Ocean Bottom Seismic Data

May 2015 – April 2017

This project analyzes two wide-angle refraction/reflection ocean-bottom seismometer profiles recently collected offshore north-central Nova Scotia.

Impact of Channel Blockage on the Performance of Axial and Cross-Flow Hydrokinetic Turbines

April 2017

This work investigates the effect of channel blockage on how axial and cross-flow turbines perform. The objective is to fill a gap in the literature on suitable blockage corrections for cross-flow turbines.

Advancing Tidal Energy Turbine Operations through High Fidelity Tug Propulsion and Control Simulation Software

November 2016 – March 2017

The project objective was to develop a numerical model of a tug boat and its propulsion system to accurately predict its dynamic behaviour in turbulent tidal flows.

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).

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.

On-line Interactive GIS Map Platform: An Enabling Initiative for the Emerging Tidal Energy Industry

April 2015 – April 2016

A proof-of-concept Geographic Information System (GIS) platform was developed aiming at building a decision-making tool that integrates complex spatial information of importance to the tidal energy industry while also being scalable, flexible and accessible.  The platform was built on open source

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).