Recent research has shown that four-quadrant turbines
are required to achieve maximum net energy production in
a tidal barrage plant. These turbines can generate electricity in
both flow directions and are capable of pumping. An innovative
turbine concept is being reviewed in the course of the Eurostars
research project Safe*Coast. This project proposes to install
a turbine in a reversible cylinder in order to allow for fourquadrant
operation. To evaluate the feasibility of the concept,
the authors designed a compact low head axial tidal turbine
with the aid of CFD simulations.
This paper presents the methods used in the design and
optimization process of the turbine. It also describes numerically
obtained turbine characteristics, and cavitation limits. The most
critical requirements of the turbine include high efficiency in
turbine and pumping mode and safe cavitation properties. By
computing steady state CFD simulations of the turbine stage, an
extensive set of geometries was analyzed. The authors optimized
the turbine performance by adjusting the meridional section,
as well as runner blade and guide vane profiles and angles
along with other related parameters. Transient simulations of
the whole setup, including the inlet and draft tube geometries,
were performed in order to study transient effects.
The final design after optimization is a three bladed axial
turbine with adjustable guide vanes and a rim generator. The
turbine’s symmetrical inlet and outlet geometry and its relative
compactness permit its integration in a reversible cylinder. The
simulation results are very positive and indicate that all the
relevant design criteria are satisfied. As a result, the project will
continue into a new phase in which a model of the turbine will
be built for physical testing in order to verify the results and to
conduct further investigations.
«
Recent research has shown that four-quadrant turbines
are required to achieve maximum net energy production in
a tidal barrage plant. These turbines can generate electricity in
both flow directions and are capable of pumping. An innovative
turbine concept is being reviewed in the course of the Eurostars
research project Safe*Coast. This project proposes to install
a turbine in a reversible cylinder in order to allow for fourquadrant
operation. To evaluate the feasibility of the concept,...
»