Abstract
This paper presents the computational models used by the authors at MARETEC/IST for hydrodynamic design and analysis of horizontal axis marine current turbines. The models combine a lifting line method for the optimization of the turbine blade geometry and an Integral Boundary Element Method (IBEM) for the hydrodynamic analysis. The classical lifting line optimization is used to determine the optimum blade circulation distribution for maximum power extraction. Blade geometry is determined with simplified cavitation requirements and limitations due to mechanical strength. The application of the design procedure is illustrated for a two-bladed 300 kW marine current turbine with a diameter of 11 meters. The effects of design tip-speed-ratio and the influence of blade section foils on power and cavitation inception are discussed. A more complete analysis may be carried out with an IBEM in steady and unsteady flow conditions. The IBEM has been extended to include wake alignment. The results are compared with experimental performance data available in the literature.
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