Development of an Adapted Turbine Model for Hydrokinetic Turbines in 2d Shallow Water Solvers

Abstract

Identifying optimum sites for hydrokinetic turbines in rivers and oceans in order to gain a maximum power output is more and more focused through the demand for sustainable energy production. This task may be supported by 2d shallow water solvers, which are able to simulate the flow in large areas with comparatively low effort. The main problem using them for turbine siting is that those solvers work with depth averaged flow quantities. Therefore, it is not possible to directly resolve the geometry of a kinetic turbine. A mathematical model is required representing the turbine characteristics in the flow field. Existing turbine models are usually based on the Linear Momentum Actuator Disk Theory which was derived for an ideal propeller in an infinitely large flow field. Regarding rivers and shallow or narrow tidal channels but also more complex types of hydrokinetic turbines - like diffuser augmented turbines - those assumptions are not fulfilled. This work presents the development of a turbine model adapted to those requirements and its implementation in 2d shallow water solvers.