Harnessing tidal energy efficiency: A comprehensive analysis of tandem flapping hydrofoils for maximizing power generation from low-level currents

Abstract

Harnessing natural water currents for renewable energy generation holds significant promise. Flapping foil hydrokinetic turbines (FHTs), inspired by aquatic organisms' propulsion mechanisms, leverage undulating motion to extract energy from flowing water. This study investigates the impact of hydrofoil shape and mechanical parameters on oscillating tandem hydrofoil systems' performance for energy harvesting, focusing on Persian Gulf tidal currents. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in a 2D domain is employed for analysis. Parameters include hydrofoil profiles (IFS, NACA 0015, HSVA, and flat plate), damping coefficient, and initial pitch angle optimized for low-level currents around 1 m/s, derived from HYCOM data. Numerical simulations highlight the superior hydrodynamic efficiency of the IFS hydrofoil. Through RANS equations in unsteady conditions, an optimal configuration with a 75-degree initial angle and damping coefficient of 4 achieves a maximum power efficiency of approximately 66.77%. Efforts have been made to ensure data accuracy, including rounding reported efficiencies appropriately and conducting thorough uncertainty analyses.