Optimal operation of turbine cascades in tidal flows

This paper analyses the design and operation of a turbine cascade in a tidal flow. The parameter of interest of the investigation is the overall energy output of the cascade, i.e. the harvest factor expressing the proportion of available energy that can be converted into usable energy. Optimizing the operation strategy means not operating each turbine in its power optimum which would result in high wake mixing losses and thus leaving more energy for its downstream turbines to maximize the overall output.