Abstract
Airfoil is a key factor that influences the hydrodynamic performance of vertical axis tidal current energy turbine. In order to explore the influences from the runner’s blade airfoil towards its hydrodynamic performance, three-dimensional unsteady flow numerical simulation on four airfoils of straight blade H type of tidal current energy turbines was carried out, under the precondition of same turbine compactness. Through investigating the influences from the four different airfoils of H blade towards the runner in terms of its dynamic torque feature and hydropower utilization coefficient, this research has analyzed the hydrodynamic performance of the tidal current energy turbine. As the research result indicates, the maximum dynamic torque value of the single-blade turbine with NACA0015 airfoil is significantly higher than that of the other three airfoils; while the maximum value of the overall runner torque is determined by the operating conditions such as different stream speed etc. As a whole, hydropower utilization coefficient of the turbine with asymmetric airfoil NACA4415 is better than that of the other three airfoils. This research has provided references for the design and airfoil selection for the new type of tidal current energy turbine.
Highlights
With the constant consumption of the non-renewable energy resources like coal and petroleum, environmental pollution issue is increasingly severe and the contradiction between energy supply and demand is becoming more and more intensified
In 2008, this vertical axis tidal turbine power generation set has been successfully tested in Zhaitang Island water area of Jiaonan City of Qingdao
Most current studies concentrate on one single aspect without covering the comprehensive impacting factors that influence the hydrodynamic performance of the straight blade H vertical axis water turbine
Summary
With the constant consumption of the non-renewable energy resources like coal and petroleum, environmental pollution issue is increasingly severe and the contradiction between energy supply and demand is becoming more and more intensified. Under such background, the tidal current, as a kind of abundant, renewable and clean energy, has obtained substantial attention [1]. Ocean University of China has developed a floating vertical axis tidal current turbine power generating set [5]. The optimal blade tip speed ratio providing essential references to the design and airfoil selection for the tidal current energy water turbine
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