Turbine design and field development concepts for tidal, ocean, and river applications

Abstract

This paper discusses tidal, ocean, and river free turbine functional design parameters and general considerations associated with tidal field developments. A particular focus is on the importance of considering mechanical fatigue and the associated calculation method when designing a turbine for the challenging hydrodynamic environment. The balance between high-fatigue resistances, costs associated with designing components, and potential for reduced turbine efficiency is discussed in regards to the potential energy extracted from a field site. A novel flexible foil vertical turbine concept with high-fatigue resistance, and simple installation and retrieval methods is shown to have a low kWh cost per production output compared to other hydrodynamic turbine concepts. Three possible field development concepts for the flexible foil turbine are described herein for river, ocean current, and tidal applications.

Bayesian network approach to fault diagnosis of a hydroelectric generation system

“…4 In Brazil, 375 small hydropower plants with the total capacity of 4799 MW are currently running, and another 1701 MW installed capacity will be constructed in the next 10 years. Obviously, the economic benefit and carbon dioxide mitigation of such hydroelectric generating systems are well known to the general public, [6][7][8][9][10][11] but the stability and safety impacts of themselves still require enough attentions. Obviously, the economic benefit and carbon dioxide mitigation of such hydroelectric generating systems are well known to the general public, [6][7][8][9][10][11] but the stability and safety impacts of themselves still require enough attentions.…”

“…5 Hydroelectric generation systems are under construction all over the world to ensure the enforcement of stricter energy and environmental policy. Obviously, the economic benefit and carbon dioxide mitigation of such hydroelectric generating systems are well known to the general public, [6][7][8][9][10][11] but the stability and safety impacts of themselves still require enough attentions.…”

Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Modelling of Loads Variation and Fatigue Life of a Full-Scale Tidal Turbine under the Effect of Velocity Profile

“…Hydrodynamic conditions in actual marine environments are site-specific and vary considerably from site to site [1,2]. Every hydrodynamic condition has different effects on the performance and structural integrity of a tidal turbine [3]. Amongst the various hydrodynamic conditions, the inflow velocity [4], wave-current interaction [5,6], turbulence [7,8] and velocity shear [9,10] have been identified as having substantial effects on the turbine performance.…”

Prediction and multi‐objective optimization of tidal current turbines considering cavitation based on GA‐ANN methods

“…Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new energy resources to adapt to future development. [2][3][4] At present, many new concepts and devices have emerged with the rapidly developing of tidal current technology but horizontal axis tidal current turbine is one of the hottest researches. During the last few decades, technologies that directly capture the kinetic energy from tidal-driven marine currents have been developed.…”

“…1 Tidal current turbine is an effective device which can directly obtain energy from the ocean with less harmful environmental effects. [2][3][4] At present, many new concepts and devices have emerged with the rapidly developing of tidal current technology but horizontal axis tidal current turbine is one of the hottest researches. 5 The design method and theory of tidal current turbine mainly comes from horizontal axis wind turbine.…”