A Simulation Model for the Evaluation of the Electrical Power Potential Harnessed by a Marine Current Turbine

Abstract

Abstract-This paper deals with the development of a Matlab-Simulink model of a marine current turbine system through the modeling of the resource and the rotor. The simulation model has two purposes: performances and dynamic loads evaluation in different operating conditions and control system development for turbine operation based on pitch and speed control. In this case, it is necessary to find a compromise between the simulation model accuracy and the control-loop computational speed. The blade element momentum (BEM) approach is then used for the turbine modeling. As the developed simulation model is intended to be used as a sizing and site evaluation tool for current turbine installations, it has been applied to evaluate the extractable power from the Raz de Sein (Brittany, France). Indeed, tidal current data from the Raz de Sein are used to run the simulation model over various flow regimes and yield the power capture with time.

Modelling and control of a marine current turbine-driven doubly fed induction generator

“…Indeed, it is widely used in the industry as a computational tool to predict aerodynamic loads and power of turbine rotors. Details of the model adaptation to marine turbines are given in the authors' previous work [13]. For a given turbine geometry (number of blades, geometry of the blades, pitch, etc.…”

“…As the rotor turbine model is well-known [13], the optimal value of the tip speed ratio λ opt , and P max = P(λ opt ) can be easily deduced. Therefore, the MCT will operate at the optimal operating point if…”

“…Moreover, the marine current speed distribution for most of the time is greater than the minimum, estimated to be 1 m/sec, required for economic deployment of marine current turbine [4]. The turbine rotor model was validated through the comparison of the simulation model with experimental data from the available literature [13], [21]. Indeed, the simulated marine turbine corresponds to the one tested in [21] (Fig.…”

Grid-connected marine current generation system power smoothing control using supercapacitors

“…Exploitable marine currents are mostly driven by the tide, which causes seawater motion regularly each day with a period of approximately 12 h and 24 min (a semi diurnal tide), or with a period of about 24 h and 48 min (a diurnal tide). The astronomic nature of tides makes marine current resource highly predictable with 98% accuracy for decades [2]. The main disturbance for the tide is the swell which causes marine current speed fluctuates on a period about [0 to 20 s. The swell effect will cause the power harnessed by the MCT and the generator to be highly fluctuant.…”

A review of energy storage technologies for marine current energy systems

“…The astronomic nature of tides makes marine tidal currents highly predictable with 98% accuracy for decades [1]. Marine current energy is in first order independent of season and weather conditions which would affect and deteriorate the performances of solar and wind power generation.…”