Digital Twining of a utility-scale tidal farm in Long Island Sound using large eddy simulatio

This study investigates turbine performance and energy extraction efficiency of a virtual tidal farm consisting of horizontal axis turbines in Long Island Sound, New York. A digital twin of the tidal farm is constructed using large eddy simulation (LES). The bathymetry data of the study site, i.e., a 1km by 1km region of the Long Island Sound, New York, near Orient Point, is obtained from digital elevation model generated from NOAA bathymetric data, with resolutions of 0.5 m. While, the site-specific Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements is utilized to set the boundary conditions of the digital twin. The LES results of the wake flow dynamics within the tidal farm enable detailed assessment of turbine loading conditions, wake structure, and energy extraction under realistic tidal forcing conditions, offering predictive insights into system performance and environmental impact of the tidal farm.