Environmental Co-design: Reconfigurable Hydrokinetic Turbine Arrays for Sustainable Energy in the Lower Mississippi Region-Sediment transport and Flooding risk

Abstract Submission: Hydrokinetic turbines are a promising renewable energy technology that operates with zero head, reducing environmental impact. This study, supported by the Department of Energy's ARPA-E program, focuses on horizontal-axis hydrokinetic turbine deployment in Baton Rouge, LA. We employ a high-definition Computational Fluid Dynamics model called Flow-3D for a comprehensive environmental assessment. This model allows us to analyze intricate flow fields, optimizing turbine placement to minimize environmental interference. Using this model, we examined the effects of placing Hydrokinetic Turbines in the river to estimate the downstream flooding risk and assess the sediment transport dynamics due to local flow pattern changes close to the turbine. Additionally, we investigate the impact of the sediment distribution change on noise and electromagnetic field (EMF), evaluating their potential impacts on aquatic life and the broader environment.

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