Unsteady Loading of an Ocean Current Turbine in a Tidal Channel

Abstract

As ocean current turbines move from the design stage into production and installation, a better understanding of both oceanic turbulent flows and localized loading is needed by researchers and members of industry. Modeling of realistic ocean turbulence in Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) of ocean turbines is essential for obtaining accurate ocean turbine loading and characteristics. In this study, tidal channel environments in which ocean current turbines are expected to operate are simulated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) LES model. Comparisons are first made between the LES results and available measurements from Puget Sound, and further flow-field characteristics are then presented, including vertical profiles of Reynolds stresses, anisotropy, turbulent loading, and two point correlations. Finally, the effects on unsteady loading of channel depth, tidal velocity, waves, wind speed, thermal stability, and turbine height are discussed.

PETER HAMLINGTON

Associate Professor

Peter is an associate professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder and the principal investigator of the Turbulence and Energy Systems Laboratory.