Marsh, P;
Ranmuthugala, D;
Penesis, I;
Thomas, G;
(2015)
Three-dimensional numerical simulations of straight-bladed vertical axis tidal turbines investigating power output, torque ripple and mounting forces.
Renewable Energy
, 83
pp. 67-77.
10.1016/j.renene.2015.04.014.
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Abstract
Three straight-bladed vertical axis turbine designs were simulated using Three-Dimensional (3D) transient Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models, using a commercial Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) solver. The turbine designs differed in support strut section, blade-strut joint design and strut location to evaluate their effect on power output, torque fluctuation levels and mounting forces. Simulations of power output were performed and validated against Experimental Fluid Dynamics (EFD), with results capturing the impacts of geometrical changes on turbine power output. Strut section and blade-strut joint design were determined to significantly influence total power output between the three turbine designs, with strut location having a smaller but still significant effect. Maximum torque fluctuations were found to occur around the rotation speed corresponding to maximum power output and fluctuation levels increased with overall turbine efficiency. Turbine mounting forces were also simulated and successfully validated against EFD results. Mounting forces aligned with the inflow increased with rotational rates, but plateaued due to reductions in shaft drag caused by rotation and blockage effects. Mounting forces perpendicular to the inflow were found to be 75% less than forces aligned with the inflow. High loading force fluctuations were found, with maximum values 40% greater than average forces.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Three-dimensional numerical simulations of straight-bladed vertical axis tidal turbines investigating power output, torque ripple and mounting forces |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.renene.2015.04.014 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.04.014 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2015. This manuscript version is published under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Non-derivative 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This licence allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work for personal and non-commercial use providing author and publisher attribution is clearly stated. Further details about CC BY licences are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. |
| Keywords: | Vertical axis turbine, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Three-dimensional, Tidal power, Ocean power, Power output |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Mechanical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1489754 |
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