*Article* **A Numerical Swallowing-Capacity Analysis of a Vacant, Cylindrical, Bi-Directional Tidal Turbine Duct in Aligned & Yawed Flow Conditions**

**Mitchell G. Borg 1, Qing Xiao 1,\*, Steven Allsop 2, Atilla Incecik <sup>1</sup> and Christophe Peyrard <sup>3</sup>**


**Abstract:** Introducing a duct along the perimeter of a rotor has been acknowledged to augment turbine performance. The outcome causation due to a bi-directional, cylindrical shroud, however, is uncertain. This study analyses the hydrodynamic swallowing capacity of a true-scale, vacant duct for tidal turbine applications in aligned and yawed inlet flow conditions by utilising threedimensional unsteady computational fluid dynamics. The performance is investigated within free-stream magnitudes of 1 to 7 m.s<sup>−</sup>1, and a bearing angular range of 0◦ to 45◦ with the duct axis. In proportion to the free-stream magnitude, the normalised axial velocity through the duct increases as a result of a diminishment in pressure drag. Within yawed flow, the maximum capacity falls at a bearing of 23.2◦, resulting in a performance increase of 4.13% above that at aligned flow conditions. The analysis concludes that the augmentation at yawed flow occurs due to the duct cross-sectional profile lift variation with angle-of-attack. Towards nominal yaw angle, the internal static pressure reduces, permitting a higher mass-flow rate. Beyond the nominal angle-of-attack, flow separation occurs within the duct, increasing pressure drag, thereby reducing the swallowing capacity.

**Keywords:** swallowing capacity; duct flow; ducted turbine
