Seawater Flow Characteristics and Drag Force Variation with Inflow Angle in Tidal Current Turbine System

Abstract:

Numerical analysis has been performed to investigate the seawater flow characteristics and drag force variation on tidal current turbine system with the direction of tidal current. Seawater velocity distribution is largely affected by the current direction flowing into the turbine system including shroud. Wake flow near the unshrouded turbine is generated and the wake region becomes wider in the tidal current direction. Drag force on the system also increases with the inflow angle. The vortex generated from the turbine system continuously moves outward from the shroud inside while the force increases before reaching a peak and then decrease. These results of the seawater flow characteristics with drag force variation according to tidal current direction can be applied to optimal design of tidal current power generation systems.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 284-287)
• Pages: 528-532
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.284-287.528
• Online since: January 2013
• Authors: Jong Won Kim, Sang Ho Lee
• Keywords: Drag Force, Inflow Angle, Seawater Flow Characteristics, Shroud, Tidal Current Turbine System

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