Abstract
Due to its high level of consistency and predictability, tidal stream energy is a feasible and promising type of renewable energy for future development and investment. Numerical modeling of tidal farms is a challenging task. Many studies have shown the applicability of the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) method for modeling the interaction of turbines in tidal arrays. Apart from its well-known capabilities, there is a scarcity of research using BEM to model tidal stream energy farms. Therefore, the main aim of this numerical study is to simulate a full-scale array in a real geographical position. A fundamental linear relationship to estimate the power capture of full-scale turbines using available kinetic energy flux is being explored. For this purpose, a real site for developing a tidal farm on the southern coasts of Iran is selected. Then, a numerical methodology is validated and calibrated for the established farm by analyzing an array of turbines. A linear equation is proposed to calculate the tidal power of marine hydrokinetic turbines. The results indicate that the difference between the predicted value and the actual power does not exceed 6%.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Mohammad JafariAlong with the increasing popularity of renewable energy resources in the 21st century as a viable alternative for fossil fuels, research and development in the field of marine renewable energies gained a significant additional boost
The current study focuses on horizontal axis tidal stream energy devices (or Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) turbines) and their performance in a farm
The Blade Element Momentum (BEM) is used to simulate the operation of turbines due to its numerically computational efficiency
Summary
Along with the increasing popularity of renewable energy resources in the 21st century as a viable alternative for fossil fuels, research and development in the field of marine renewable energies gained a significant additional boost. The BEM is implemented within ANSYS FLUENT through the Virtual Blade Model (VBM) [11] Using this modeling approach, Mozafari [12] proposed a general numerical methodology based on fitting a linear relationship between available Kinetic energy flux. The significance of this research lies in the fact that it can effectively decrease computational effort for designing the layout of a tidal current energy farm In this respect, the present study aims at generalizing the step-by-step methodology proposed by Mozafari [12] and to resolve the conceptual problem in its proposed linear relationship. The present study aims at generalizing the step-by-step methodology proposed by Mozafari [12] and to resolve the conceptual problem in its proposed linear relationship For this purpose, a real site for developing a tidal farm in the southern coasts of Iran is selected.
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