Abstract
Several different designs and prototypes of ocean current turbines have been tested over recent years. For every design test, emphasis is given to achieving an optimum power output from the flow. In this study, the performance of a Horizontal Axis Ocean Current Turbine (HAOCT) has been investigated using three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for three cases, namely, (1) a turbine without a deflector, (2) a turbine with a deflector, and (3) a turbine with a deflector operating at a higher fluid depth. The turbine design was modeled in DesignModeler software and simulations were carried out in commercial CFD software Flow-3D. The Torque Coefficient (Cm) and Power Coefficient (Cp) for the turbine have been investigated for a certain range of Tip-Speed Ratios (TSRs) in a flow velocity of 0.7 m/s. Furthermore, comparisons have been made to demonstrate the effect of the deflector on the performance of the turbine and the influence of a higher fluid pressure on the same. The results from the simulations indicate that the higher value of Cp was achieved for Case 2 as compared to the other two cases. The findings from the study indicate that the use of the deflector enhances the performance of the turbine. Furthermore, a higher fluid pressure acting on the turbine has a significant effect on its performance.
Highlights
The continuously growing population and energy demand has encouraged many countries around the world, especially the developing ones, to make compelling efforts for exploring the alternative sources of energy [1,2,3,4]
The study concluded that the turbine with a deflector increased the power coefficient by 50% more than that achieved by a turbine without a deflector [26]
As the present study investigates a new concept of turbine blade, which has not been studied to much extent yet and majorly operates on the drag mechanism, the use of a deflector and its effect on the performance on this new design has been considered
Summary
The continuously growing population and energy demand has encouraged many countries around the world, especially the developing ones, to make compelling efforts for exploring the alternative sources of energy [1,2,3,4]. As the present study investigates a new concept of turbine blade, which has not been studied to much extent yet and majorly operates on the drag mechanism, the use of a deflector and its effect on the performance on this new design has been considered. Unlike the traditional hydropower systems which utilize dams and tidal barrages for energy conversion, the ocean current turbines work on a similar principle as the wind turbines, but completely submerged underwater They generate power from the kinetic energy of moving water and the power available is a function of the velocity of the current cubed. The turbine with the deflector has been located at the base of the computational domain for studying the influence of a higher fluid pressure and proximity of the channel bed on the performance of the turbine. (c) Figure 2. (Fai)gTuurerb2i.n(ea)arTruarnbigneemarernantgfoemr Cenatsfeo1r ;C(bas)etu1;rb(bin) etuarrbrianne gaerrmanegnetmfeonrtCfoarseC2a;se(c)2;tu(cr)btiunrebianrerangement for Case 3a. rrangement for Case 3
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