Particle swarm optimization applied to tidal turbine placement in the Minas Passage
LE3 .A278 2011
2011
Karsten, Richard
Acadia University
Bachelor of Science
Honours
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics & Statistics
Nova Scotia presently plans to produce 25% of its electricity needs from renewable en- ergy sources by the year 2015. One method of renewable energy production available and unharnessed in Nova Scotia is tidal power in the Bay of Fundy, and more specif- ically in the Minas Passage. More water ows through the Minas Passage each day than all of the world's freshwater rivers combined. The shape of the Minas Passage in particular makes it a prime location for in-stream tidal turbines. There is ongoing research in this area, however before tidal turbines are mass installed in the Minas Passage, it would be bene cial to know where to place them in order to maximize the available electrical power output. This thesis introduces an optimization method which could potentially be used to achieve this goal. Particle Swarm Optimization, or PSO has many di erent forms illustrated by the input parameters. The goals of this thesis are to introduce to the reader the basic concept of PSO, to determine which of three forms of PSO would be most e ective to use to maximize electrical power output, and to determine if PSO is a competitive method for this purpose.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:773