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Effects of Support Structures in an LES Actuator Line Model of a Tidal Turbine with Contra-Rotating Rotors

Author

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  • Angus C. W. Creech

    (Institute of Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3HL, Scotland, UK)

  • Alistair G. L. Borthwick

    (Institute of Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3HL, Scotland, UK)

  • David Ingram

    (Institute of Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3HL, Scotland, UK)

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics is used to study the impact of the support structure of a tidal turbine on performance and the downstream wake characteristics. A high-fidelity computational model of a dual rotor, contra-rotating tidal turbine in a large channel domain is presented, with turbulence modelled using large eddy simulation. Actuator lines represent the turbine blades, permitting the analysis of transient flow features and turbine diagnostics. The following four cases are considered: the flow in an unexploited, empty channel; flow in a channel containing the rotors; flow in a channel containing the support structure; and flow in a channel with both rotors and support structure. The results indicate that the support structure contributes significantly to the behaviour of the turbine and to turbulence levels downstream, even when the rotors are upstream. This implies that inclusion of the turbine structure, or some parametrisation thereof, is a prerequisite for the realistic prediction of turbine performance and reliability, particularly for array layouts where wake effects become significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Angus C. W. Creech & Alistair G. L. Borthwick & David Ingram, 2017. "Effects of Support Structures in an LES Actuator Line Model of a Tidal Turbine with Contra-Rotating Rotors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:5:p:726-:d:99155
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Yidan & Shek, Jonathan K.H. & Mueller, Markus A., 2023. "Controller design for a tidal turbine array, considering both power and loads aspects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    2. Ding Nan & Toru Shigemitsu & Shengdun Zhao, 2018. "Investigation and Analysis of Attack Angle and Rear Flow Condition of Contra-Rotating Small Hydro-Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Ruiwen Zhao & Angus C. W. Creech & Alistair G. L. Borthwick & Vengatesan Venugopal & Takafumi Nishino, 2020. "Aerodynamic Analysis of a Two-Bladed Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Using a Coupled Unsteady RANS and Actuator Line Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-26, February.
    4. Zia Ur Rehman & Saeed Badshah & Amer Farhan Rafique & Mujahid Badshah & Sakhi Jan & Muhammad Amjad, 2021. "Effect of a Support Tower on the Performance and Wake of a Tidal Current Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-13, February.
    5. El Fajri, Oumnia & Bowman, Joshua & Bhushan, Shanti & Thompson, David & O'Doherty, Tim, 2022. "Numerical study of the effect of tip-speed ratio on hydrokinetic turbine wake recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 725-750.
    6. Edmunds, Matt & Williams, Alison J. & Masters, Ian & Banerjee, Arindam & VanZwieten, James H., 2020. "A spatially nonlinear generalised actuator disk model for the simulation of horizontal axis wind and tidal turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    7. Ji Hao Zhang & Fue-Sang Lien & Eugene Yee, 2022. "Investigations of Vertical-Axis Wind-Turbine Group Synergy Using an Actuator Line Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-22, August.

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