Measured dynamic loading and power performance of tidal turbines in realistic flow conditions

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Ocean Energy)

Basic and strategic applied research

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr L Myers
School of Engineering Sciences
University of Southampton

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2014

30 September 2015

12 months

£185,700

Energy

South East

Newton Programme

Dr L Myers, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton

Project Contact, Ocean University of China

Tidal turbines (akin to underwater wind turbines) are at a stage of development where full-scale prototype devices have been deployed and tested in the seas surrounding the UK and other locations in the world. The next step is to deploy farms or arrays of multiple devices to demonstrate operability, cost reduction and the ability to generate electricity at a larger scale.In order to do this device developers and funders of the technology must have confidence and assurances that these arrays of tidal turbines will perform as predicted; but how do you predict something that you have never done before? Computer-based numerical models can simulate things before they are constructed or installed but without data to validate these models how can anyone know if they will be accurate?This project addresses such a question "How can we aid industry to best validate dynamic (real time) array models for:(a) optimised array design and layout, (b) prediction of dynamic loadings and fatigue effects (rotors and blades) through inflow turbulence and device-device interactions and (c) reliability or planning for O&Mconsidering the lack of publically-available data?Our answer is to:1. To provide real, time -series data of loadings and power performance experienced by tidal turbines under realistic inflow conditions and when devices interact with one another (in array type configurations). At present there is little if any data on this (mostly average values or short time-scale experimental runs) which cannot sufficiently validate models. We will provide scale test data with all parameters required to use data sets for validation purposes2. To provide measured time-series data for larger multiple-row arrays than has been previously conducted3. To quantify so-called "steady loads" and measure changes in performance over time through long-term testing of a scale device(s) in the seaAnd to make project data available directly to relevant marine energy stakeholders in a very timely manner

04/02/15