Assessment of Current Power Potential of the Two-Layer Exchange Flow through the İstanbul Strait (Bosphorus) Using a 3-D Hydrodynamical Model

The power potential of the İstanbul Strait’s (Bosphorus) two-layer exchange flow was
assessed using a 3D hydrodynamical model that resolves the full strait geometry. Steady-state
solutions for the mean annual barotropic flow rate, under both homogeneous and stratified
reservoir conditions, were used to quantify the advective kinetic energy transport in the upper
and lower layers. Results indicate substantial energy availability, with peaks in the southern
strait for the upper layer and downstream of the northern sill for the lower layer, persisting
under both hydrographic conditions. Under stratified conditions, power densities from the
upper layer reach up to 3.84 kW/m2 but remain confined to the upper 10 m and overlap with
heavy marine traffic, limiting practical harvesting in the narrow southern section. The lower
layer peak effective kinetic energy flux accounts only 35% of the upper-layer peak yet achieves
comparable power densities of up to 2.69 kW/m2 just after the northern sill. Simulations with
varying barotropic flow rates under the stratified reservoir conditions show limited variability
for the lower layer peak section before the hydraulic jump following the north sill, where
harvesting attempts could affect the dynamics of the exchange, and strong temporal variability
for the second peak farther downstream, where impacts on the Mediterranean effluent may
yield ecological consequences.