Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
This research focused on maximizing the power generated by an array of ocean
current turbines. To achieve this objective, the produced shaft power of an ocean current
turbine (OCT) has been quantified using CFD without adding a duct, as well as over a
range of duct geometries. For an upstream duct, having a diameter 1.6 times the rotor
diameter, the power increased by 8.35% for a duct that extends 1 diameter upstream.
This research also focused on turbine array optimization, providing a
mathematical basis for calculating the water velocity within an array of OCTs. After
developing this wake model, it was validated using experimental data. As the
downstream distance behind the turbine increases, the analytic results become closer to
the experimental results, with a difference of 3% for TI = 3% and difference of 4% for TI
= 15%, both at a downstream distance of 4 rotor diameters.
current turbines. To achieve this objective, the produced shaft power of an ocean current
turbine (OCT) has been quantified using CFD without adding a duct, as well as over a
range of duct geometries. For an upstream duct, having a diameter 1.6 times the rotor
diameter, the power increased by 8.35% for a duct that extends 1 diameter upstream.
This research also focused on turbine array optimization, providing a
mathematical basis for calculating the water velocity within an array of OCTs. After
developing this wake model, it was validated using experimental data. As the
downstream distance behind the turbine increases, the analytic results become closer to
the experimental results, with a difference of 3% for TI = 3% and difference of 4% for TI
= 15%, both at a downstream distance of 4 rotor diameters.
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