Tidal energy round robin tests : a comparison of flow measurements and turbine loading

Martinez, Rodrigo and Gaurier, Benoît and Ordonez-Sanchez, Stephanie and Facq, Jean-Valéry and Germain, Gregory and Johnstone, Cameron and Santic, Ivan and Salvatore, Francesco and Davey, Thomas and Old, Chris and Sellar, Brian G. (2021) Tidal energy round robin tests : a comparison of flow measurements and turbine loading. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9 (4). 425. ISSN 2077-1312 (https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9040425)

[thumbnail of Martinez-etal-JMSE-2021-Tidal-energy-round-robin-tests]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Martinez_etal_JMSE_2021_Tidal_energy_round_robin_tests.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (2MB)| Preview

Abstract

A Round Robin Tests program is being undertaken within the EC MaRINET2 initiative. This programme studies the used facility influence can have on the performance evaluation of a horizontal axis tidal turbine prototype when it is operated under wave and current conditions. In this paper, we present the design of experiments that is used throughout the work programme and the results related to the flow characterisation obtained at the Ifremer wave and current circulating tank, the Cnr-Inm wave towing tank and the ocean research facility FloWave. These facilities have been identified to provide adequate geometric conditions to accommodate a 0.724 m diameter turbine operating at flow velocities of 0.8 and 1.0 m/s. The set-up is replicated in each of the facilities with exemption of the amount of flow measuring instruments. Intrinsic differences in creating wave and currents between facilities are found. Flow velocities are up to 10% higher than the nominal values and wave amplitudes higher than the target values by up to a factor of 2. These discrepancies are related to the flow and wave generation methods used at each facility. When the flow velocity is measured besides the rotor, the velocity presents an increase of 8% compared to the upstream measurements.

ORCID iDs

Martinez, Rodrigo, Gaurier, Benoît, Ordonez-Sanchez, Stephanie ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7253-6299, Facq, Jean-Valéry, Germain, Gregory, Johnstone, Cameron ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5171-1230, Santic, Ivan, Salvatore, Francesco, Davey, Thomas, Old, Chris and Sellar, Brian G.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)