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Robust validation of a generalised actuator disk CFD model for tidal turbine analysis using the FloWave ocean energy research facility
,
Anup Nambiar,
Brian Sellar ,
Aristides Kiprakis,
Ian Masters
Renewable Energy, Volume: 190, Pages: 232 - 250
Swansea University Authors:
Charles Badoe, Matthew Edmunds, Alison Williams , Ian Masters
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.renene.2022.03.109
Abstract
Coupled blade element momentum-computational fluid dynamic (BEM-CFD) approaches have been extensively used to study tidal stream turbine performance and wake development. These approaches have shown to be accurate when compared to tests conducted in tow-tanks or in regulated flumes with uniform flow...
| Published in: | Renewable Energy |
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| ISSN: | 0960-1481 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2022
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59726 |
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| Abstract: |
Coupled blade element momentum-computational fluid dynamic (BEM-CFD) approaches have been extensively used to study tidal stream turbine performance and wake development. These approaches have shown to be accurate when compared to tests conducted in tow-tanks or in regulated flumes with uniform flows across the turbine. Whilst such studies can be very useful, it is questionable as to what extent the results would differ in a larger scale environment where the flow is more representative of real-world conditions, being either unsteady or non-uniform. In this work, the effectiveness of a generalised actuator disk-computational fluid dynamics (GAD-CFD) approach in accurately capturing fluid-machine interaction for single and multiple tidal energy converters models is further assessed. A unique large-scale experimental facility, FloWave, has been used to conduct physical testing of three instrumented model tidal energy converters of rotor diameter 1.2 m under differing turbine layouts and realistic scaled environmental conditions. These large-scale tests provide a unique dataset against which this work's numerical simulations have been extensively validated. Comparisons between the tank and GAD-CFD approach show good agreement, particularly when comparing modelled to measured thrust, and enabled an evaluation of the effects of turbine spacing and arrangement on turbine performance and flow-field response. |
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| Keywords: |
FloWave; GAD-CFD; Blade element momentum; Tidal energy; Tidal turbine; Horizontal axis turbine |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded “Extension of UKCMER Core Research, Industry and International Engagement” project (EP/M014738/1), and the SURFTEC SuperGen grand challenge project, funded under EPSRC grant (EP/N02057X/1) and the SELKIE project funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme. |
| Start Page: |
232 |
| End Page: |
250 |