A choice of sluice passage for a tidal power plant: venturi- or culvert-type passage?

The objective of this study was to investigate which of the two most common sluice passage types (i.e. culvert- and venturi-type passages) for a tidal power plant has a better discharge capacity. The discharge capacity of sluice passages was estimated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Flow-3D. The total flow rate through sluice passages (and resultant power output) was further investigated and compared using 0-D modelling in a case study of the Taedong barrage, the DPR Korea. The results of CFD and 0-D modelling indicated that a culvert-type passage showed superior discharge capacity and resultant power output over a venturi-type passage in the case that the outlet area of the two passages was the same. In this case, therefore, the number of venturi-type passages required for the target power generation will be significantly increased, which will result in an increase in the complexity and cost of the construction and operation for the tidal power plant. In summary, it can be concluded that the results obtained in this study will help researchers to choose carefully sluice passage types to improve the discharge capacity and the resultant power output for tidal range power plants.