Samenvatting

The research concerns a currently developed project of implementing a tidal power harnessing system in the structure of Brouwersdam. The system would exploit hydraulic head difference between two water bodies and using gravity caused flow, generate electricity. As a side-effect to such system, hydraulic activity would be created on either sides of the barrier, resulting in erosion of the sea bed.
The report aims to assess and estimate the change of bed morphology, magnitude and bed scouring in particular, if the intended tidal power plant was to be installed. The morphological change is decided by parameters of flow- flow velocity and its applied shear stress upon the bed particles and flow resistance capacity of the bed layer, determined by thresholds of critical velocity or shear stress at which bed grains are displaced.
A literature review is conducted to analyze and lay out the expected flow conditions at the location, modus operandi of sediment transport and bed scour phenomenon, hydraulic structures and bed protection presence influence for the development of scour. In addition, an algorithm to evaluate the relevant flow and sea bed properties and calculate bed scour is developed and provided in a concise scheme.
To evaluate the potential hydraulic conditions and bed scour severity around Brouwersdam, the developed scheme is applied using a time-dependent MATLAB model, leading to varying flow conditions and a slow and unsteady scour development process.
The results of the research display the effect the predefined boundary conditions have on the electricity production, magnitude of flow velocity and bed shear stress, and the critical particle flow resistance thresholds. All of which lead to the evaluation of scour development over time, its maximum depth and the span of the affected bed area.
Graphs and plots visualizing the investigated parameters over time and performed calculations lead to conclusions that more electricity could be harnessed if the boundary conditions were changed and that scour hole development will be rapid at its initial phase and decrease in development over time.