Many years ago, i read of a proposal to place turbines at the bottom of the Cape Cod Canal. this was by a Russian mechanical engineering professor, at Northeastern University. the idea seemed good, as the 1.5 hour time difference (of high tide at each end of the canal) guarantees a water flow at all times. I have been unable to find any reference to this-anybody know what I should be Googling?
No, but seeing the raw power of tides in narrow places makes me wonder how it could be harnessed efficiently. Maybe it can’t with current technology. Talk about renewable energy.
Behold the East River turbines.
It’s challenging to get it to work right. The mechanical stresses on the turbines are quite severe, and space in fast-flowing rivers or straits is quite limited.
The engineer you are thinking of may be Alexander Gorlov
Here is one article:
http://www.gcktechnology.com/GCK/articles_Memo_To_Tides.html