Design of a contra-rotating marine current turbine

Clarke, Joseph Andrew and Connor, Gary and Grant, Andrew and Johnstone, Cameron; (2005) Design of a contra-rotating marine current turbine. In: Proceedings of the 6th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference. EWTEC. ISBN 094764942-5

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Abstract

A contra-rotating marine current turbine has a number of attractive features: nearzero reactive torque on the support structure, near-zero swirl in the wake, and high relative inter-rotor rotational speeds. Modified blade element modelling theory has been used to design and predict the characteristics of such a turbine, and a model turbine and test rig have been constructed. Tests in a towing tank demonstrated the feasibility of the concept. Power coefficients were high for such a small model and in excellent agreement with predictions, confirming the accuracy of the computational modelling procedures. Highfrequency blade loading data were obtained in the course of the experiments. These show the anticipated dynamic components for a contra-rotating machine. Flow visualization of the wake verified the lack of swirl behind the turbine. A larger machine is presently under construction for sea trials.

ORCID iDs

Clarke, Joseph Andrew ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4783-5107, Connor, Gary, Grant, Andrew and Johnstone, Cameron ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5171-1230;
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