Computational Fluid Dynamics

Based Optimal Design of

Vertical Axis Marine Current Turbines
Karina Zala

CONTENTS
Introduction to Marine Turbines
Types and Advantages
Aims & Objectives
Parameters of Interest
Geometric Modelling
Results and Analysis
Conclusions

Introduction to Marine Turbines

Marine turbines are widely used to harness kinetic
energy from tidal waves to convert it into
renewable energy.
Dependent on efficiency, which is dependent on its
geometric features.
Using CFD, it is possible to simulate the flow of
water in the region of the marine turbines and
monitor its performance.

Types and Advantages

Two types of Marine Current Turbines:
(1) Horizontal Axis Marine Current Turbines
(HAMCT)
(2) Vertical Axis Marine Current Turbines
(VAMCT)
VAMCTs are preferred over HAMCTs due to
their:
Low start-up torque
Quiet operation
Insensitivity to the angle of incident flow

Types of VAMCTs
Savonius (Drag type)
Darrieus (Lift type)

Aims and Objectives

Aim:
To determine the optimal design for maximum power
generation.
Objectives:
Use CFD based techniques to analyse the effects of the
number of stator and rotor blades.

Gain a clear understanding of flow structure in proximity

of the blades during the transient interaction between the
rotor and stator blades.

Parameters of Interest
Important parameters:
Tip Speed Ratio in terms of
operation:

=

Power output in terms of

performance:
=

stator

rotor

Geometric Modelling

Configuration

No. of Stator Blades

No. of Rotor Blades

4-4

4-8

4-12

12

Geometric Modelling

Configuration

No. of Stator Blades

No. of Rotor Blades

8-4

8-8

8-12

12

Geometric Modelling

Configuration

No. of Stator Blades

No. of Rotor Blades

12-4

12

12-8

12

12-12

12

12

Torque Output
12.00
4-4

7.00

2.00

Av. CT.

4-8

-3.00

-8.00
4-12

-13.00

-18.00
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Torque Output
12
10

8-4

8
6

Av. CT.

8-8

2
0
-2

8-12

-4
-6
-8
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Torque Output
12
10

12-4

8
6

Av. CT.

12-8

2
0
-2

12-12

-4
-6
-8
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Torque Output
12.00

4-4
4-8

7.00
4-12
8-4

2.00

Av. CT.

8-8

-3.00

8-12
12-4

-8.00
12-8
12-12

-13.00

-18.00
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Average Torque Output

TSR
Configuration

0.01

0.1

0.2

0.4

0.6

4-4
4-8
4-12
8-4
8-8
8-12
12-4
12-8

44.10
67.71
96.82
88.77
162.35
142.83
82.10
70.76

19.58
23.25
39.75
62.26
132.19
90.91
60.60
96.00

-12.02
-31.18
-27.25
32.50
105.51
41.28
36.08
58.49

-82.96
-150.45
-160.33
-34.86
30.08
29.87
-22.97
-24.70

-163.66
-274.01
-292.04
-111.91
-31.34
-44.22
-95.19
-117.77

12-12

182.79

149.74

119.98

53.83

-16.98

Power Output
2
4-4

Av. CP

-2
4-8

-4

-6
4-12

-8

-10
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Power Output
2
8-4

Av. CP

0
8-8

-1

-2
8-12

-3

-4
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Power Output
2
12-4

Av. CP

0
12-8

-1

-2
12-12

-3

-4
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Power Output
2

4-4
4-8

4-12

Av. CP

-2

8-4
8-8

-4

8-12
12-4

-6

12-8

-8

12-12

-10
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Average Power Output

TSR
Configuration

0.01

0.1

0.2

0.4

0.6

4-4

0.63

2.80

-3.43

-47.40

-140.28

4-8

0.97

3.32

-8.91

-85.97

-234.87

4-12

1.38

5.68

-7.79

-91.62

-250.32

8-4

1.27

8.89

9.29

-19.92

-95.93

8-8

2.32

18.88

30.15

17.19

-26.87

8-12

2.04

12.99

11.79

17.07

-37.91

12-4

1.17

8.66

10.31

-13.12

-81.59

12-8

1.01

13.71

16.71

-14.11

-100.95

12-12

2.61

21.39

34.28

30.76

-14.55

Conclusions
VAMCT is better utilised to extract power.
The number of stator and rotor blades affects the
performance of the VAMCT.
The higher the configuration, the wider the operating
condition there is before reaching the churning
condition.
The configurations with the same number of stator and
rotor blades (i.e. with 4-4, 8-8, and 12-12) yields the
highest power.

Questions !!!