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Tidal Turbines II

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 9120

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Cherbourg University Laboratory of Applied Sciences LUSAC, University of Caen Normandy, 60 Rue Max-Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France
Interests: environmental fluid dynamics; turbulence; sediment transport; computational fluid dynamics; tidal turbines
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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
Interests: tidal turbines; renewable energies; heat transfers; turbulence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Laboratoire Universitaire de Sciences Appliquées de Cherbourg (LUSAC, EA 4253), Normandy University, UNICAEN, 60 rue Max Pol Fouchet, CS 20082, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
Interests: tidal resource; tidal turbine; wake; turbulence; wave; tide; hydrodynamic modelling; coastal oceanography; coastal processes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tidal currents contain a large amount of highly predictable energy. Harvesting this energy with marine turbines could enable producing a large amount of low-carbon energy and thus contribute to the reduction in fossil fuels in the energy mix. Although a great deal of research has been conducted on marine turbines, there is still much work to be done to improve designs, reduce costs, and ensure minimal impact on the environment. Thus, research is still needed in several areas such as the characterization of the resource, the development of turbines and their components, the use of new materials, the optimization of turbine layouts, and the assessment of interactions between turbines and the environment.

This second Special Issue on tidal turbines aims to bring together the latest research results on marine turbines according to the following topics:

  • Tidal resource characterization and modeling;
  • Tidal device development and testing: innovative devices, design, laboratory and field-scale experimental studies, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), materials for the performance;
  • Loadings and fatigue: fluid–structure interaction (FSI), small- and full-scale measurements, materials, fatigue, loadings;
  • Layout organization and optimization;
  • Environment interactions: Effects on sediment transports, impacts on the aquatic environment, fooling effects on the performance;
  • Field deployment results;
  • Turbines in microgrid configurations.

Prof. Dr. Sylvain Guillou
Dr. Eric L. Bibeau
Dr. Jérôme Thiebot
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • tidal turbines
  • devices testing
  • layout organization
  • resource assessment
  • fluid structure interactions
  • environmental interactions
  • levelized cost of energy
  • energy storage

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 9487 KiB  
Article
Vertical-Axis Tidal Turbines: Model Development and Farm Layout Design
by Micol Pucci, Raffaele Spina and Stefania Zanforlin
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2366; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102366 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1102
Abstract
In this paper, we propose a new 3D model for vertical-axis tidal turbines (VATTs) embedded in the shallow-water code SHYFEM. The turbine model is based on the Blade-Element∖Momentum (BEM) theory and, therefore, is able to predict turbine performance based on the local flow [...] Read more.
In this paper, we propose a new 3D model for vertical-axis tidal turbines (VATTs) embedded in the shallow-water code SHYFEM. The turbine model is based on the Blade-Element∖Momentum (BEM) theory and, therefore, is able to predict turbine performance based on the local flow conditions and the geometric characteristics of the turbine. It is particularly suitable for studying turbine arrays, as it can capture the interactions between the turbines. For this reason, the model is used to test a tidal farm of 21 devices with fluid dynamic simulations. In particular, we deploy the farm at Portland Bill, which is a marine site characterised by a wide spread in the direction of the tidal currents during a flood-ebb tide cycle. We optimised the lateral and longitudinal spacing of the turbines in a fence using computational fluid dynamics simulations and then performed a sensitivity analysis by changing the distance between the fences. The results show that the greater the distance between the fences, the higher the power output. The increase in power generation is around 16%, but this implies a huge increase in the horizontal extent of the farm. Further assessments should be carried out, as the expansion of a marine area dedicated to energy exploitation may conflict with other stakeholder interests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tidal Turbines II)
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23 pages, 6113 KiB  
Article
Modelling and Performance Analysis of a Tidal Current Turbine Connected to the Grid Using an Inductance (LCL) Filter
by Ladislas Mutunda Kangaji, Lagouge Tartibu and Pitshou N. Bokoro
Energies 2023, 16(16), 6090; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16166090 - 21 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1518
Abstract
Nowadays, integrating renewable energy sources, such as tidal power, into the existing power grids of turbines is crucial for sustainable energy generation. However, tidal turbine energy transforms the potential energy of moving water into electrical energy. When both nonlinear load and dynamic load [...] Read more.
Nowadays, integrating renewable energy sources, such as tidal power, into the existing power grids of turbines is crucial for sustainable energy generation. However, tidal turbine energy transforms the potential energy of moving water into electrical energy. When both nonlinear load and dynamic load harmonics are present, the tide speed variance causes serious power quality issues such as low power factor, unstable voltage, harmonic distortions, frequency fluctuations, and voltage sags. The integration of an LCL-filter-based connection scheme can address these challenges by improving power quality and the overall performance of the tidal current turbine grid system. This study shifts LCL filter research from its conventional wind energy emphasis to the emerging field of tidal stream generation systems. The LCL filter analysed in this paper is modelled to exhibit adequate mechanical, electrical, and hydrodynamic characteristics. This model accounts for tidal current variations, turbine speed control, and power extraction dynamics. The LCL filter is evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing harmonic distortions, voltage fluctuations, and reactive power fluctuations. This system is composed of a 1.5 MW/C, a 1.2 MW three-level inverter with a nominal voltage of 600 V, and an inductance (LCL) filter. The results show that the inverter produces a harmonic distortion of less than 0.5%, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the filter in improving total harmonic distortion, reactive power consumption, and voltage control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tidal Turbines II)
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27 pages, 13646 KiB  
Article
Validation of Actuator Line Modeling and Large Eddy Simulations of Kite-Borne Tidal Stream Turbines against ADCP Observations
by Nimal Sudhan Saravana Prabahar, Sam T. Fredriksson, Göran Broström and Björn Bergqvist
Energies 2023, 16(16), 6040; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16166040 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1197
Abstract
The representation of tidal energy in future renewable energy systems is growing. Most of the current tidal turbine designs are limited by the minimum current velocity required for efficient operation. The Deep Green (DG) is a kite-borne tidal power plant designed to sustain [...] Read more.
The representation of tidal energy in future renewable energy systems is growing. Most of the current tidal turbine designs are limited by the minimum current velocity required for efficient operation. The Deep Green (DG) is a kite-borne tidal power plant designed to sustain efficient operation in tidal current velocities as low as 1.2 ms−1. This could increase the geographical areas suitable for large-scale tidal power arrays. Numerical modeling of the Deep Green was carried out in a previous study using large eddy simulations and the actuator line method. This numerical model is compared with acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements taken in the wake of a DG operating in a tidal flow under similar conditions. To be comparable, and since the ADCP measures current velocities using averages of beam components, the numerical model data were resampled using a virtual ADCP in the domain. The sensitivity of the wake observations to ADCP parameters such as pulse length, bin length, and orientation of the beams is studied using this virtual ADCP. After resampling with this virtual ADCP, the numerical model showed good agreement with the observations. Overall, the LES/ALM model predicted the flow features well compared to the observations, although the turbulence levels were underpredicted for an undisturbed tidal flow and overestimated in the DG wake 70 m downstream. The velocity deficit in the DG wake was weaker in the observations compared to the LES. The ALM/LES modeling of kite-borne tidal stream turbines is suitable for further studies of array optimization and wake propagation, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tidal Turbines II)
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15 pages, 16639 KiB  
Article
Effect of Vertical Confinement and Blade Flexibility on Cross-Flow Turbines
by Mohamed-Larbi Kara-Mostefa, Ludovic Chatellier and Lionel Thomas
Energies 2023, 16(9), 3693; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093693 - 25 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1337
Abstract
Both scientific and industrial communities have a growing interest in marine renewable energies. There is a wide variety of technologies in this domain, with different degrees of maturity. This study focuses on two models of a mast-free vertical axis Darrieus tidal turbine with [...] Read more.
Both scientific and industrial communities have a growing interest in marine renewable energies. There is a wide variety of technologies in this domain, with different degrees of maturity. This study focuses on two models of a mast-free vertical axis Darrieus tidal turbine with the objective of characterizing the effect of vertical confinement, rotor configuration, and fluid–structure interactions on their performances in free-surface flows. The first model comprised four straight rigid blades maintained by circular flanges on both ends of the rotor and the second model is equipped with free-ended interchangeable blades attached to a single upper flange. Two configurations of the second model mounted with either rigid or flexible blades were used, first for comparison with the dual-flange turbine, then in order to address the effect of fluid–structure interactions on the turbine performances. While the single-flange models exhibit a significantly lower efficiency at all operating points, it is observed that the use of flexible blades tends to enhance turbine performances at low Reynolds numbers. The flow topology obtained from PIV measurement at selected operating points is discussed with respect to the performance of each turbine model in order to highlight the role of the dynamic stall and blade–vortex interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tidal Turbines II)
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18 pages, 8566 KiB  
Article
Blockage Corrections for Tidal Turbines—Application to an Array of Turbines in the Alderney Race
by Nasteho Djama Dirieh, Jérôme Thiébot, Sylvain Guillou and Nicolas Guillou
Energies 2022, 15(10), 3475; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103475 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2160
Abstract
Tidal turbines are located in shallow water depths in comparison to their dimensions (15 m-diameter turbines in 40 m depths, typically). Constrained vertically by the water depth and laterally by neighbouring turbines, the flow within a tidal farm is subjected to blockage effects [...] Read more.
Tidal turbines are located in shallow water depths in comparison to their dimensions (15 m-diameter turbines in 40 m depths, typically). Constrained vertically by the water depth and laterally by neighbouring turbines, the flow within a tidal farm is subjected to blockage effects that influence the performance of individual devices. The Betz limit (which is the maximum power extractable from an unconstrained flow) can, therefore, be exceeded as demonstrated by Garrett and Cummins. Thus, beyond a significant blockage ratio, blockage effects should be considered when assessing the energy production of a tidal farm. The actuator disk method is particularly suited to simulate the flow field within an array of turbines under realistic tidal flow conditions. However, the implementation of actuator disks in coastal numerical models relies on relationships that neglect the blockage effects on the thrust and power of devices. We propose here an actuator disk formulation corrected to integrate these effects. This modified formulation, based on the model of Whelan et al., is integrated into a regional implementation of a three-dimensional model Telemac3D targeted towards the Alderney Race (English Channel). The method is applied to two hypothetical tidal farms with aligned and staggered arrangements, respectively. Blockage corrections of the thrust and power coefficients are found to have counterbalanced effects on the array production. Thrust correction results in a noticeable flow reduction within the array. However, the associated decrease of the array production is counterbalanced by the increase of the turbine power coefficient. Blockage corrections were, therefore, found to result in a slight increase, by 3%, of the array production over a mean spring tidal cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tidal Turbines II)
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