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Hydrodynamic analysis of a ducted, open centre tidal stream turbine using blade element momentum theory


Citation Allsop, S., Peyrard, C., Thies, P.R., Boulougouris, E. and Harrison, G.P. Hydrodynamic analysis of a ducted, open centre tidal stream turbine using blade element momentum theory, Ocean Engineering, 141: 531-542, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.06.040.
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Author(s) Allsop, S., Peyrard, C., Thies, P.R., Boulougouris, E. and Harrison, G.P.
Project partner(s) University of Edinburgh, Electricité de France, University of Exeter, University of Strathclyde
Publisher Ocean Engineering, 141: 531-542
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.06.040
Abstract This paper analyses two different configurations of horizontal axis Tidal Stream Turbines (TSTs) using a Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT) model. Initially, a “conventional” three bladed and bare turbine is assessed, comparing against experimental measurements and existing literature. Excellent agreement is seen, increasing confidence in both the implementation of the theory and the applicability of the method. The focus of the paper lies on the analysis of a ducted and open centre turbine. An analytical adjustment to the BEMT model is applied, using empirical expressions detailed in the literature which are devised from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies. This is modified to a symmetrical duct profile, calibrating certain geometrical parameters against blade resolved CFD studies of a bi-directional device. The results are validated with a coupled CFD blade element model (RANS BEM), where both models align very closely (within 2%) for most tip speed ratios (TSRs), including the peak power condition. Over predictions are seen at higher TSRs of up to 25% in power and 13% in thrust at TSR = 5, due to model limitations in replicating fully the complex flow interactions around the hub and the open centre. The presented approach benefits from significantly lower computational requirements, several orders of magnitude lower than reported in the RANS-BEM case, allowing practicable engineering assessments of turbine performance and reliability.

Highlights
  • A BEMT model for 3 bladed bare turbines is validated with experimental data.
  • A BEMT model incorporating analytical adjustments for ducted flow is developed.
  • Rotor power and thrust are comparable to a coupled RANS BEM study.
  • Over predictions at high TSRs are located towards the open centre hub.
  • Significant computational cost savings are recorded compared with CFD.
This work was partly funded via IDCORE, the Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy, which trains research engineers whose work in conjunction with sponsoring companies aims to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal-current technologies
Associated Project(s) ETI-MA2003: Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE)
Associated Dataset(s) No associated datasets
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